A conservative wife? 9

On my way home from get off work, the setting sun filtered through the leaves, casting its rays upon the people who had toiled all day for a living. Looking at the bustling crowds of migrant workers on the street, their faces still radiated happiness despite life's hardships. A pang of sadness struck me. It had been a week since I left the voice recorder at Xiao Li's house, but my wife had been going to get off work every day, and I hadn't been able to record anything useful. My plan to continue waiting had to be abandoned. To make things easier, I applied to the company's branch office in the provincial capital. Since my last visit there, I had been promoted to deputy workshop director and given a day off every Sunday. Company leaders had spoken to me several times; since our return, there had been frequent equipment malfunctions at the branch office, and they hoped I could temporarily fill in at the production department. I didn't want to go; I didn't want to be too far from my wife and daughter. But with everything that had happened, I was afraid I would explode in front of my wife every day. More importantly, I needed evidence, and leaving might make it easier to obtain it. The application process was just a formality. The boss personally received me and said that I've worked at the company for six years, and everyone has witnessed my work. This time, I'm being offered the position of Deputy Production Manager at the branch office, enjoying the benefits of a company leader. This means I'll have weekends off every week and can come home to be with my family. I never expected to experience a career breakthrough while my love life is going badly. I don't know whether to be happy or sad. When I got home, I told my wife about the company's decision. She was a little unhappy, showing her usual domineering side, saying that such a big decision wasn't discussed with her beforehand. She asked if she was more important than her job. I scoffed inwardly and said this was an opportunity. We still have a mortgage, our daughter's expenses at private school are huge, and she can come home every week. If she really disagrees, I'll talk to the management and see if someone else can go. My wife asked how long I'd stay there. I said I could come back once things are completely stable there, probably a year at most. In the end, my wife agreed. I don't know if she's just pretending to be reluctant to leave or if she genuinely still cares about me; I don't know yet.
A week later, my wife prepared my daily necessities and took me to the high-speed rail station, telling me to take good care of myself as the weather got colder and to call her whenever I had free time. I entered the waiting room with mixed feelings, turning back to look at my departing wife, a complex mix of emotions swirling within me. Upon arriving in the provincial capital, the branch manager arranged a welcome banquet. The flattery from my colleagues at the table made me a little giddy. Old Zhu, who had arrived more than a month before me and was still the deputy manager, was even happier than I was, pulling me aside and talking incessantly. I'm naturally a heavy drinker, and after a few drinks, my brain started to malfunction. When I woke up the next day, my phone was full of messages and missed calls from my wife. I quickly called back, and unsurprisingly, she sternly questioned what I had been doing the night before, not answering the phone or replying to WeChat messages. I explained for a long time before she let me off the hook, saying I should tell her in advance next time, making her stay up all night! She asked about my food, lodging, and other arrangements. A warmth filled my heart, but thinking about her actions still left me feeling uneasy. I went home for two consecutive weeks, secretly going to Xiao Li's house to get a voice recorder. Aside from some phone calls, nothing happened. Xiao Li made several calls to my wife, but she seemed to refuse each time. She didn't tell him I was away on a business trip. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Is my plan just going to fall apart like this? The third week, my wife and daughter came to visit. I'm staying in an apartment building provided by the company, while Lao Zhu and his colleagues live in the factory dormitory. I didn't want Lao Zhu and his colleagues to meet my wife; perhaps only I know the reason. So I didn't tell my colleagues that my wife was there. This weekend, the family had a great time in the provincial capital. Although all indications suggested that my wife had actually been to many places before, seeing her genuinely attentive with our daughter, her radiant smile still touched me. Looking at my wife's long, white neck and graceful figure, to be honest, for a moment I wavered. But all the past events were like a thorn in my side; I couldn't pretend nothing had happened. Even the best adhesive will leave cracks in a shattered mirror. When my wife left, she reminded me to take care of myself, not to be too frugal, and to occasionally go out for a nice meal. I didn't know how I felt, and I didn't want to think about it anymore. The year was almost over, and I still hadn't gained anything. Just when I was about to lose patience, the recording finally contained content I didn't know whether I wanted it or not. Besides recordings of them having sex, it explained why it had taken so long to record: they often made love to each other at my house during lunchtime on our bed. I didn't have much time to be sad. Although the recording didn't contain my wife's specific information, it should be enough to deal with Xiao Li. I wrote an anonymous letter with Xiao Li's information and the recording and sent it to the relevant department. Three days passed without any response. Just as I was about to report it to a higher level, the government finally issued a notice. I don't remember the specifics, but Xiao Li was suspended from his duties and placed under investigation. A month later, he was given a warning and dismissed. I knew that dismissal was usually just a common tactic; after a while, when things calmed down, he would be transferred to another department and reassigned. No wonder it's a coveted "iron rice bowl" that millions of people would fight tooth and nail for! When I went home on weekends, my wife's behavior was noticeably different from usual. She was restless, often lost in thought, and her eyes held suspicion, fear, and a hint of confusion. I acted as usual, but deep down, my feelings towards my wife were incredibly complex. Many thoughts kept surfacing and then being forcibly cut off. She might already know I reported her, or she might not. Just when I didn't know how to handle our relationship, my wife told me she wanted to go teach in a mountainous area over a thousand kilometers away for a year and had already signed up. I don't know what I was thinking; maybe it was escapism, or maybe I wanted to give myself some time to try and forgive her. I agreed. After discussing it with my family, I took my wife to the train station after the New Year. As we parted, she straightened my clothes and gave me and the children advice on various aspects of life. Watching her enter the waiting room, memories flooded back like old film reels, countless fragments flashing through my mind, and tears unknowingly blurred my vision.
The new year went smoothly at work. My mother came to take care of my granddaughter every week, and I video chatted with my wife occasionally. It felt like everything was back to normal. Although I was a little reluctant, I still attended a few gatherings. Most people in my circle who knew Xiao Li knew about his situation. They were a bit sorry for him, saying he wasn't careful enough. He had such a beautiful wife and still joined the industry, yet he cheated on her and was even recorded at home. Now he's been demoted to a rural teaching position, and his wife doesn't go out with him anymore… To be continued…

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