The Nature of Greed
'Ha, today was really dangerous.' Yoo Seon-nyeo was dragging her weary body home. It was a thirty-minute walk. Since there were no bus routes and taxis were too expensive, she walked this distance every day.
'I thought it might be a bit risky, but it actually worked out well. If I can maximize the number of kids in the orphanage...' Yoo Seon-nyeo was already looking forward to the orphanage population growing to fifty, then a hundred.
'If the number of children increases, we'll obviously need more staff. And when hiring, if I take referral fees from my relatives or people looking for work...' Yoo Seon-nyeo was truly blinded by greed. Although she submitted reports to the YK staff, she was the de facto decision-maker. Because of this, she wasn't just crossing the line; she was determined to engage in total corruption.
'And if the kids increase, we'll have to make a lot of side dishes. Maybe I should open a small side-dish shop?' To prepare meals for a hundred people, there were naturally many side dishes to be made. Yoo Seon-nyeo even plotted to embezzle the ingredients during that process to open a shop for her daughter.
'Ho ho ho, I thought I was done for and would have to close the orphanage, but who knew life could turn around like this?' Yoo Seon-nyeo was in high spirits. She wasn't the only one displaying such an attitude.
"Ugh, why does the Chairman have to visit all of a sudden? Seriously." At the remark from one of the employees walking home together, the employee next to him nodded. It was a combination of a tall, stout employee and a short, rather thin one. The two were heading home pulling a handcart together.
"But we get more out of it when the Chairman visits. Don't you think? It means he's interested. Don't you remember how it used to be?" At the words of the small employee pulling the cart in front, the large employee pushing from behind thought for a moment before nodding.
"True, you're right. We didn't have any support back then. It's much better now." The reason they said it was "good" had nothing to do with the children. The cart was piled high with bundles. When they left work, they would pack their heads and both hands with bundles to take home. It included not only the toys Yoon-gi had brought for the children but also rice and side dishes from the orphanage, and even the picture books they had been told to return.
"Still, isn't it such a hassle to bring them back? Ah, why is this cart so hard to push?" the large employee grumbled. They no longer had the self-awareness that they were 'stealing.' It was a situation where the perception that the orphanage's belongings were their own had taken root. That was why they were annoyed at having to return the picture books they had already taken home.
"Can't help it. The director told us to bring them back. By the way, the director is living the life these days. We're just taking things out of 'conscience,' but the director is on another level, isn't she? She's going to be rich." The small employee, sweating profusely while pulling the cart, spoke. The large employee nodded in immediate agreement.
"She's already rich. YK bought all the orphanage land and the buildings. Honestly, who would buy that place? Only YK would do it. Ah, honestly, I'm jealous. She's already rich, yet she stays in the director's seat and takes everything she can. Sigh." Seeing the large employee consumed by envy, the small employee made a subtle suggestion.
"By any chance, do you have any kids' clothes at home?"
"What clothes? Even if I did, they're all worn out."
"Then, bring those clothes to the orphanage tomorrow."
"What? Why?" At the large employee's question, not yet understanding the proposal, the small employee grinned and whispered evilly.
"We're going to swap our kids' clothes with the orphanage kids' clothes. How about that?"
"What? What if the director throws a fit?"
"Don't worry. She can't. We already know everything about how the director embezzles things. So, she'll have no choice but to turn a blind eye."
"Hmm..." As the large employee considered it plausible, the small employee delivered the final blow.
"Our kids can't even wear good clothes, so are you going to let kids without parents wear new ones?"
The large employee nodded immediately. "Now that you put it that way, that's true. Got it, I'll bring them tomorrow."
"Just the two of us. Just us two. Got it?"
"Don't worry, do you think I'm that dense?"
The smiles they exchanged seemed like they would last forever, but it ended in less than five seconds.
"We'll be conducting a brief inspection."
Police appeared suddenly. It wasn't just one or two. Four police officers blocked the large and small employees from all sides, causing