Electrical question: Two ceiling fans, one circuit?

[Mike Johnson]

iamrfixit is right, they’re not installed correctly, not even close. I guess the good news is, you discovered it before one of the fans broke off its mount and hurt somebody. And of course, it’s old overhead lighting so there’s probably no arc fault on the circuit, so while you’re rushing your bleeding, unconscious mother-in-law to the hospital, the exposed torn wiring will arc and start a fire.

If I had to guess, it’s something like



but it’s hard to tell from the photos, it’s wonky, it doesn’t really make sense, and most importantly, I’m not an expert. That diagram is just a possibility and carefully examining the actual wiring, and testing it, would be necessary.

Edited to add: looking again at your photos it’s clear my diagram isn’t what you’ve got. I give up.