Was there a phone call?
An Ning had just gotten out of bed when Lin Cuihua came over.
"Wear my cotton-padded shoes!"
Lin Cuihua had changed into a pair of lighter shoes, giving the cotton-padded ones she'd been wearing to An Ning.
"Mom, you're the best."
An Ning put on Lin Cuihua's cotton-padded shoes, a floral cotton-padded jacket, and a red headscarf. Looking every bit the part of a village girl, she ran out with big strides.
Fortunately, this path had been mostly swept, so An Ning's cotton-padded shoes didn't get too wet.
In the telephone office, An Ning looked at the number that had been left for her. It was an unfamiliar one.
She dialed the number back. The person on the other end seemed to be in a hurry; they picked up before the first ring had even finished.
"Hello, this is An Ning."
"Hello, An Ning. This is Li Chengze's father. Has Li Chengze arrived yet? He said he would call me back, but he hasn't."
"Li Chengze? He came to find me?"
