Zhao Jianing entered the brigade office, walked straight to the office, and all the village cadres in the meeting turned to look at her.
Upon seeing it was the Zhao family's girl who had returned from the city, the Brigade Leader asked, "Zhao family's girl, what can I do for you?"
Zhao Jianing, with tears in her eyes, replied, "Brigade Leader, may I use the village's telephone to call my foster parents?"
Someone next to her said, "Using the brigade's telephone costs money."
Zhao Jianing said softly, "I don't have any money now, but my foster mother loves me very much. As long as the call goes through, they will send me the money quickly, and I will repay the phone bill. Please, I beg of you."
The group of grown men couldn't bring themselves to be harsh to a young girl, so Gao Jiefang said, "Here's the deal, let your father come over here. If he agrees, I'll let you make the call. If he doesn't, there's nothing I can do."