Ling Momo couldn't help but burst into tears over the phone, she never imagined that her choked "I'm fine" would prompt him to respond with such heartache, "Where are you?"
Trembling, Ling Momo raised her hand, wiped away her tears, and then blurted out in one breath, "Teacher... I'm in the countryside... I... they curse at me..."
Upon hearing her cry, Li Qingshen grew even more anxious. Her sobs were harrowing, and her voice was faltering. He listened for a long time but could hardly make out what she was saying, only catching the words "curse at me." A fire flared up in his heart, and he kept his voice steady, coaxing her with, "Momo, don't cry. First, tell me, where are you?"
Ling Momo took a deep breath, managed to stop her crying, and her words came out somewhat jumbled, but this time Li Qingshen heard her loud and clear, "I'm at my old home in the countryside; they won't give us the land, I couldn't argue with them, and they curse people."
