In the letters, Bai wrote:“Some people say that marrying a peasant is no good, but in my opinion, the kind of people who covet personal enjoyment and look down on farmers are the most pathetic… Some people say that staying behind in the countryside has no future, while I firmly believe that toiling in the vast countryside for one’s whole life is a great accomplishment and has a bright future.”When Bai sent her letters, it was when the Maoist left, led by Jiang Qing, was doubling down on the Campaign to Criticize Lin Biao and Confucius. The sent-down youth, especially those who married local peasants and “put down roots” in the villages, were praised as heroes. With this context, Bai’s marriage to the local farmer was set as an example, and state media used her story as propaganda to call for other sent-down youth to follow Bai.
Bai expressed her opinion in a series of letters:“Some people say that marrying someone from a lower social class is not beneficial, but I think those who prioritize personal happiness and look down on rural workers are the most unfortunate… Some individuals claim that staying in the countryside has no future prospects, whereas I firmly believe that dedicating one's life to working in the vast countryside is an admirable accomplishment with a promising future.”At the time Bai wrote these letters, the Maoist faction led by Jiang Qing was intensifying its criticism of Lin Biao and Confucius. The young people who were sent down to the countryside, especially those who married local peasants and became integrated into rural communities, were celebrated as heroes. Given this context, Bai's marriage to a local farmer was used as an example, and state media disseminated her story as propaganda to encourage other sent-down youth to follow in her footsteps.