The old auntie was just as excited as Director Mao had been earlier. But compared to Director Mao, her tone carried more complaints and regret.
No one in the Xu family smoked that heavily, so the old auntie would surely have stayed next door with the doors and windows wide open, listening to the Xu family's three men argue.
We packed up our things and prepared to leave.
I was still a little worried that the Xu family's situation might affect us.
To put it bluntly, or even maliciously, if the government weren't demolishing their homes, why would family members be arguing with each other to the point of nearly coming to blows?
There was no way to explain that to people. Those who could understand would understand. Those who liked to find a culprit would find one.
The skinny guy muttered, "They're already like this over a vote. Once they start discussing compensation, things will be even less peaceful."
The old auntie had sharp ears. She turned to the skinny guy and said, "Young man, you've got it wrong. There's a saying: 'A thousand feet of ice doesn't form in a single day.' Whether or not this demolition were happening, that family was bound to come to blows sooner or later."
Before the dazed skinny guy could humbly take her lesson and give her a thumbs-up in admiration, the old auntie had already turned back to gossiping with Director Mao.
"That son of Xu Tie's—what was his name again? He found himself a girlfriend and wants to get married. Xu Gang might have to pay for it..."
We couldn't get a word in edgewise with the aunties' gossip. Judging by what we'd seen so far, the Xu family was sure to become a holdout. Holdouts whose families weren't united