When we arrived at the detention center, I learned that the Hu family had been waiting there. Two reporters from World Weekly were inside as well. They were clearly hoping to make a big story out of this.
Director Ma had agreed to meet them there only because the Hu family had insisted.
While Director Ma was introducing himself to the Hu family and the reporters, Jiang You quietly filled me in on the whole situation.
The Hu family had moved too quickly, as if they'd planned this in advance, catching the demolition office completely off guard. On top of that, the office was hardly an important department within the government system, and its resources were limited. The old leader had plenty of connections, but he lacked contacts in the media, whose influence had only recently been abused. Director Ma had no choice but to start by expressing the demolition office's sincerity from a defensive position.
They had to make a show of it, at least.
We all knew Hu Kai was scum and the Hu family was preparing to extort us, but we couldn't stoop as low as they did. Their shamelessness could earn them over a million yuan. If we acted just as shamelessly, we'd only lose our jobs—and have no one to appeal to.
After listening to Jiang You mutter through the details, I found it hard to focus.
Something about the atmosphere in the detention center felt off. It wasn't the way the police looked or acted. There was just a strange presence in the air—not quite an aura of gloom, and not like any malicious thought I'd sensed before.
I searched for its source, sweeping my gaze around the room.
"Everyone, let's move to the visiting room to talk. If you want to visit Hu