Pay up… thought Jeong Jin Wu. He realized that Chae Rim was involved in a conspiracy worse than he had imagined. He was so enraged that he could not breathe properly. He nearly lost his senses and wanted to yell at Chae Rim.
“Comrade Chairman, as you know, the government distributed the exact amount for each of the inventions and the inventors. However, you decided to control those funds on your own. You pocketed the cash prize that was meant for the inventors and instead handed out vases and plaques. Please explain to me why you did that.”
Chae Rim, evasive and shifty-eyed, hurriedly searched his pockets for his pack of cigarettes. For some unknown reason, as soon as he found it, he put it back. Chae Rim cleared his throat and regained his composure.
“There are two reasons. First, a portion of the cash prize was an allocation for us to refurbish our office and put up a metal fence around our building. However, we may have overdone it by using more than originally allocated. Second, instead of awarding our inventors with just a cash prize, we commended their work with a vase and a plaque. We did this to encourage our inventors to work harder. If they produce better machines, then we will give them more next year. Moreover, I realized that this year’s inventors did not care about a cash prize. These were the kind of loyal people who care only for the progress of our society. I figured there’s no need to give out cash prizes to these kinds of noble-minded inventors. Comrade Judge, that’s the reason we used the funds to do some work on our office building. I did not put a dime in my pocket.”
Chae Rim was so amazed and satisfied with his own logic and reasoning that he pulled out his cigarettes and smoked one slowly.
Furious and extremely irritated, Judge Jeong Jin Wu fired another charge.
“You cunningly sabotaged the noble minds of the inventors.”
“What are you talking about, Comrade Judge?”
“You’ve not only sabotaged them, but you’ve insulted them and trampled all over them,” added Judge Jeong Jin Wu, piercing Chae Rim with his acerbic words.
“Comrade Chairman, do you know what Comrade Lee Seok Chun went through in order to produce his machine? Do you have any idea what kind of days he has had to endure for the past five years? Have you seen the hundreds of blueprints that he went through to build that machine? Did you know that he basically slept at the factory and paid for every experimental failure out of his own pocket? He could not bring home a decent salary because of all this, but he persisted and finally succeeded. Did you know that?”
Jeong Jin Wu did not skip a beat.
“The country desires precisely this kind of loyal worker and considers his efforts to be valuable. And that is why the country holds these kinds of exhibitions to honor these types of workers, and that is why the country rewards them with cash prizes. The country tries to support the technicians and experts with the prizes so that they can enjoy an abundant life. However, you, Comrade Chairman, took the cash prize and refurbished your office with an expensive desk, luxurious sofa, and comfortable chair—the kind of furniture that you can’t buy from just anywhere. How is that different from putting the cash prize directly into your pocket?”
Chae Rim appeared uncomfortable and loosened his tie.
“You, Comrade Chairman, stole from the people, who have spilled blood and sweat for their work. You have abused your authority. You have insulted the energy and talents of the people who participated in the exhibition, and you have hindered the Party’s demands to improve technology and the country’s economic advancement! You have committed a crime, comrade. And I will do everything in my power to prosecute you!”
“Um… Com-… Comrade Judge. Wait a minute, now. The other offices are furnished with the same kind of furniture.” Chae Rim’s face turned red.
“No more excuses! Criminals like you need to receive a harsh sentence. Our penal law clearly states that anyone who intentionally violates the socialist principle of equal distribution and infringes upon the people’s efforts, creation, and inventions will be duly imprisoned. The penal law applies to everything you did.”
“How… how does it apply to me?” Chae Rim’s bright red face had turned a ghostly white.
“I’m actually taking your case lightly. Lee Seok Chun’s marital problems are, of course, his own. However, you are also responsible for insulting him by not awarding him a cash prize at the exhibition, thus mocking his years of suffering over his invention. You fanned the flames of his marital discord by convincing Chae Sun Hee to think of her husband as a lowlife. You will also duly receive punishment for interfering with another family’s life.”
Chae Rim drew an awkward smile as he stuttered, “Comrade Judge, I… I just came back from my business trip. I… I don’t know what’s going on.”
“What is there not to know here? Sun Hee is your second cousin, and so is Seok Chun. Why would you sabotage family? You were also once a technician. And now you are a man of executive power. You should have helped him. If you knew that he was struggling with the engineering aspect of his machine, then you should have called some professional engineers to help him or encouraged him to enroll at the Engineering College. Isn’t it your duty as a chairman to increase the expertise level of the workers rather than to increase profit?
“Comrade Judge, allow me to think about this for a few days, and then I will come see you at your office,” replied Chae Rim, wiping the beads of perspiration off his forehead.
“Fine. You do that.”
Jeong Jin Wu picked up his backpack and headed toward the factory. He no longer wanted to converse with the repulsive man. It was obvious to Jeong Jin Wu that Chae Rim had manipulated the science fair and profited from the scheme, a hypocritical gesture from someone who claimed to appreciate the toil and effort of this generation’s inventors. When he cornered Chae Rim and did not allow him to slip away, Jeong Jin Wu felt the sublimity of justice reign over humanity. His heavy backpack felt light, and he walked with a spring in his step.
Meanwhile, Chae Rim picked up his luggage and trudged in the opposite direction with his shoulders slumped.
Clouds of greasy smoke billowed from the casting area as molten metal was poured into the molding container. The metal did not solidify in the molding container and remained golden. Bits of molten metal had splashed onto the walls, leaving a burned scent. The fan from the air ventilation system was spinning, but Jeong Jin Wu still felt the heat of the molten metal and smelled the stale air.
Jeong Jin Wu lowered his backpack, disappointed and unnerved. He feared he had come too late. The factory was lifeless. He did not see nor hear anyone working. The empty molten metal basin held to the ceiling by long steel beams was inactive, and moldings were scattered across the floor of the casting area. In the corner, there was an untouched pile of scrap moldings. The factory was empty; the machines were soulless.
Jeong Jin Wu searched the factory for workers on the night shift or workers about to start the night shift, but none was to be found. He went to the lathe sector, then to Seok Chun’s station and tool cabinet, and then to the factory recreation center. He felt more and more helpless as he roamed the seemingly abandoned factory. His backpack felt heavier and heavier with each step. Just then, he heard movement in the back part of the factory. He made his way there and found Seok Chun sitting in front of the furnace, chipping away at a brick. Seok Chun rested his chin on his hands, deep in thought. A long ladle, a pair of tongs, and a scraper-like tool used to remove metal bits were scattered on the floor next to Seok Chun.
Then Seok Chun got up without realizing that Jeong Jin Wu was standing there. He opened the furnace and shoveled some fuel inside. Afterward, he sat back down on the stack of bricks. The golden blaze of the fire from the furnace was reflected on Seok Chun’s pitiable face and disheveled hair. His entire body was covered in ash and soot.