I truly hated these people's behavior.
Chen Aihua played dead and pushed the problem onto us. Since it was our job, we could only deal with it as best we could.
They kept shouting the same things over and over, so we took turns going up and repeating the same talking points.
They had no case, and the law wasn't on their side, but if they wanted to make a scene, we couldn't just throw them out.
After the Housing Bureau staff finished eating, they watched the spectacle for a while, then patted us on the shoulder to express their sympathy.
The neighborhood committee office wasn't very big. The Housing Bureau staff had to head out to work, but those people refused to move aside.
Things descended into chaos, with everyone talking over one another, as if they were competing to see who would lose patience and give in first.
My head was pounding. I quietly apologized to the person in charge at the Housing Bureau. He was full of grievances, but understood my predicament.
A crowd had gathered outside the neighborhood committee office, many of them familiar faces.
An old man from Building 19 shouted, "You're obstructing people from doing their jobs, and you think you're in the right? Have you no shame? Aren't you embarrassed?"
The people outside joined in the jeering.
Some people recognized Chen Aihua and started cursing him, too. "Chen Aihua, are you even a man? You spineless coward! You let your brother-in-law take advantage of you, and now he's even taken over your son's wedding home! Did you marry into the Ni family or what?"
Chen Aihua lowered his head and said nothing, as if he were used to this sort of scene.
I turned to glance around and take a breather. That was