Professor Pei:

Professor Pei:

Hello!

I started work on October 8th, and the first thing I did was receive your letter—so warm and familiar! Reading your letter felt like a gentle warmth spreading through my body!

"Every festival brings back memories of loved ones." You wrote in your letter on October 1st, while I was planning to visit Tianshui and Wushan on October 1st, hoping to meet you and spend a few days together. Truly, we seemed to understand each other perfectly!

Here's the story: During my father's illness, he asked me to take good care of my aunt in Xianyang, who had been paralyzed for over thirty years. Her family was burdened with many tasks, and life was extremely difficult. To fulfill my father's wish, I took a train to Xi'an on October 1st and then traveled to Xianyang. While there, Yafang and I discussed plans to visit Gansu after Xianyang—our trip would include visiting your hometown, where we could spend two quiet, peaceful days together. However, due to the difficulties at my aunt's home and the situation involving my son Yang Jing, we unfortunately canceled that plan, leaving me with a deep sense of regret! We hadn't seen each other since the Spring Festival, and we hadn't seen each other in a long time. Our longing grew stronger, and I was eager to see you. At the end of the month, I had a visit arranged by the China Foreign Affairs Association, and I planned to spend ten days traveling around. Around that time, I hoped to arrange a meeting with you.

Reading your letter, I learned that your academic achievements were about to be published again, and with the support of colleagues like Director Cunwen, you were planning to hold an academic conference. I was thrilled to hear this news, and Yafang and I celebrated our friendship and our longing for you—our emotions were lifted and we were filled with joy! It was a great honor to see your academic work published, and to have photos of you alongside me. Seeing your radiant spirit in the classroom, and experiencing your presence as if we were sitting in a warm breeze, I was truly moved and deeply grateful for your medical research achievements—especially for the brotherly kindness and respect you showed me!

My mother took your medicine, and her chronic illness showed clear signs of improvement. I would like to thank your mother once again!

We will soon be holding a plenary committee meeting to implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee, so we will be staying in Hohhot. We can contact each other anytime.

This letter was supposed to be sent on October 8th, but the long holiday and the accumulated tasks and two urgent matters delayed it—sorry for that!

Also, Dong Peiqin, Chairman of the Alxa League Literary Federation, wrote "A History of the Soul of Alxa." He graduated from the Chinese Department of Gansu Normal University in 1982 and worked hard in remote, challenging places—truly a difficult journey. Over the past few years, I have supported him in various ways, and I wrote a preface for his book. I sent you a copy to read when you have time.

Wishing your whole family happiness and good health!

Li Min
October 11, 2004