" For God's sake, not that elm tree again! 'My elm' this, 'my elm' that, morning, noon, and night... Where are the so called fruits of this elm, eh, that you've worn your life out on? Still on the way are they? Soup with meat and pure white rice-"
"Stop flapping your tongue woman. They're awarding medals at the factory tomorrow; I'll need to be able to hold my head up then, won't I?"
"Another medal! What good is a medal to us? Will a medal keep us warm? Will a medal fill our stomachs? It's just a useless chunk of iron; it's a far cry from silk clothes and a tile-roofed house. "

― , The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea