Although it was Zhao Zhiguang who had instigated the trouble, and his idea set things in motion, he wasn't the only one consumed by greed. There had been those enviously eyeing Zhao Erhu's wealth all along, and now, with someone leading the charge, they could hardly contain themselves. They thought to take advantage of this opportunity to squeeze more benefits out of Zhao Erhu's family, preferably by making a big fuss about it. With everyone involved, the blame couldn't be pinned on just one person.
The people Zhao Erhu picked were specifically chosen; most of them were actually of good character. Aside from a small number who sided with Zhao Zhiguang, the majority, though anxious about their wages, adopted a wait-and-see attitude, feeling that to do as Zhao Zhiguang suggested would be going too far.