With Li Junfeng and the others here this year, Du Chunfang hardly went to the fields. On her occasional outings, she merely picked some wild vegetables or the like. She spent most of her time in her own courtyard.
Sister-in-Law Lu from across the way and the women from the courtyards in front and behind occasionally came over to chat. When Mingming and Haohao attended the preschool class, she would go over to keep an eye on them, but once they started kindergarten in the County Seat, she stopped going out.
She said she could not be bothered to go out, but a somewhat socially anxious disposition was part of it.
Li Jianguo had a car too, and he drove the GAZ vehicle to the fields from time to time. But those were mostly work trips, so Du Chunfang had hardly ever ridden in it.
Li Long opened the passenger door for Mom and had her sit inside. After shutting her door, he settled into the driver's seat and said:
"Come on, let's look at the cotton fields, then visit Little Haizi."
"All right, whatever you say." Du Chunfang was a little nervous in the car. She gripped both sides of the seat, trying hard to sit upright. Li Long told her:
"Mom, lean back. Sit however you're comfortable... This is our own car. Don't worry about all that."
"All right, all right, I'll lean back." Du Chunfang smiled and relaxed, leaning back before adding, "It's quite comfortable."
Li Long slowly reversed out. As he turned the car around, his elder sister-in-law, Liang Yuemei, came back from the Front Courtyard. He stuck his head out and called to her:
"I'm taking Mom out for a drive."
"All right, go ahead. Come back for lunch later," Liang Yuemei replied. "The sun's