by Death Kopitiam Singapore
7 June 2025
ðð§ð ððĻð§ð ðððĄ æīŠčĢį, ðð (ð. ðð ððð§ðŪððŦðē ðððð)
To pay off his debts and honour his promise to his wife to bring her to his hometown in Chaozhou in China, Yong Seh kept working and working.
After the pandemic, he barely rested, only four times a year, during the Lunar New Year festive period.
For the past thirty years, each time they developed a regular customer base, the coffeeshops they were at would be sold, or the rent would increase significantly, and they would move.
In late June 2024, Yong Seh moved his stall from Block 22 Sin Ming Road to Block 36 Sin Ming Drive.
Weeks before his death, he caught a cold.
Despite that, he did not rest. He kept on toiling at his stall.
Eventually, it was too much for him to bear.
Four days before his death, he took a rest.
He assured his wife that he had more years to live.
However, on January 9, 2025, he reported breathing difficulties and was hospitalised.
Early next morning (Jan 10, 2025), Yong Seh breathed his last, after his wife promised him that she would safeguard the stall.
ðð§ð ððĻð§ð ðððĄ æīŠčĢį, ðð (ð. ðð ððð§ðŪððŦðē ðððð)
Yong Seh would be up by 5 each morning.
By the time he’s home, it will already be close to 11 in the evening.
18 gruelling hours at work.
For decades, he and his wife, Lilian Chua, 66, devoted all their waking hours to their stall, Xin Ming Road Bak Kut Teh, which has been in business for more than 30 years.
During the pandemic, their stall incurred huge losses.
Their monthly rental was SGD 9,000; they also had to spend SGD 4,000 each month to hire an extra pair of hands to help them at the stall.
Their savings were depleted, and he accumulated debts of around SGD 100,000.
By the time he’s home, it will already be close to 11 in the evening.
18 gruelling hours at work.
For decades, he and his wife, Lilian Chua, 66, devoted all their waking hours to their stall, Xin Ming Road Bak Kut Teh, which has been in business for more than 30 years.
During the pandemic, their stall incurred huge losses.
Their monthly rental was SGD 9,000; they also had to spend SGD 4,000 each month to hire an extra pair of hands to help them at the stall.
Their savings were depleted, and he accumulated debts of around SGD 100,000.
To pay off his debts and honour his promise to his wife to bring her to his hometown in Chaozhou in China, Yong Seh kept working and working.
After the pandemic, he barely rested, only four times a year, during the Lunar New Year festive period.
For the past thirty years, each time they developed a regular customer base, the coffeeshops they were at would be sold, or the rent would increase significantly, and they would move.
In late June 2024, Yong Seh moved his stall from Block 22 Sin Ming Road to Block 36 Sin Ming Drive.
Weeks before his death, he caught a cold.
Despite that, he did not rest. He kept on toiling at his stall.
Eventually, it was too much for him to bear.
Four days before his death, he took a rest.
He assured his wife that he had more years to live.
However, on January 9, 2025, he reported breathing difficulties and was hospitalised.
Early next morning (Jan 10, 2025), Yong Seh breathed his last, after his wife promised him that she would safeguard the stall.
In his last moments, his thoughts were still with his stall.
It was his identity, pride and embodiment.
Besides the wife he loved, it was the next significant thing that kept him going for years and years.
According to doctors, Yong Seh suffered from low immunity due to overwork.
It was his identity, pride and embodiment.
Besides the wife he loved, it was the next significant thing that kept him going for years and years.
According to doctors, Yong Seh suffered from low immunity due to overwork.
Yong Seh was a loving husband.
He showed his love to his wife by deeds, not words.
He was tough on the outside but tender on the inside.
Since she hurt her shoulders years ago, Yong Seh made sure his wife did not have to carry any heavy objects.
For decades, and especially after the pandemic, Yong Seh carried financial and physical burdens on his shoulders.
He showed his love to his wife by deeds, not words.
He was tough on the outside but tender on the inside.
Since she hurt her shoulders years ago, Yong Seh made sure his wife did not have to carry any heavy objects.
For decades, and especially after the pandemic, Yong Seh carried financial and physical burdens on his shoulders.
Today, Lilian cuts a lonesome figure.
But like many hawkers plying their trade, Yong Seh had no dreams. He was merely trying to pay his rental fees, cope with rising operational costs and make ends meet.
Our hawkers had to work longer, harder and with minimal rest.
This is a self-defeating and vicious cycle.
In the face of rising costs, Yong Seh was alone and lonely.
He worked himself to breaking point. The same can be said of many hawkers in Singapore.
This is the tragedy playing out every day.
ððĄðĻððĻ ððŦðððĒð: Xin Ming Road Bak Kut Teh/FB
But like many hawkers plying their trade, Yong Seh had no dreams. He was merely trying to pay his rental fees, cope with rising operational costs and make ends meet.
Our hawkers had to work longer, harder and with minimal rest.
This is a self-defeating and vicious cycle.
In the face of rising costs, Yong Seh was alone and lonely.
He worked himself to breaking point. The same can be said of many hawkers in Singapore.
This is the tragedy playing out every day.
ððĄðĻððĻ ððŦðððĒð: Xin Ming Road Bak Kut Teh/FB
No comments:
Post a Comment