Nang Chong Stories : Child Bride from China

Child Bride Series : First Daughter in law Sia Nguok Kiew

Sia Nguok Kiew - First Daughter in law

My first aunt,dui ging, and first sister in law to my mother, was a child bride. She was born in China but she came out to Nanyang as a child with her siblings, and other relatives living near Sarikei and Paloh area. It was not known if her parents came and lived in Sarikei.

There was a very touching story about her relatives during the Japanese Occupation.

While my mother and her older brother planted rice behind their house in Nang Chong, throughout the 3 years and 8 months,they still did not have enough rice to eat. Their meals were supplemented with sweet potatoes, tapioca and even sago. All these three were found on their table every day and in actual fact my mother said they did not starve, for as long as they were willing to plant and eat whatever they could grow.

It was also illegal for any rice farmer to bring rice without permission from Paloh to other parts of the Rajang because it was under the control of the Japanese Government. Every grain of rice planted by the Chinese in Paloh was under their supervision and the production was mainly for the Japanese army.

It was a whole day's walk from Paloh to Nang Chong according to my mother, with a few stream crossing. Indeed anyone risking their lives smuggling rice from that area must have great courage and love for family.


Her sister in law's brother and wife smuggled a bit of white rice for the family. The couple had started their journey even before dawn and walked quickly. The rice was tied to the wife's waist which made her look a little plumpl. Part of the rice was under her hat, wrapped with a piece of long cloth. Some rice was tied to the brother's waist too.

All along the journey of slightly more than 12 hours, they were fortunate not to meet any Japanese soldiers. Otherwise if they were discovered, they would have been shot at sight or at the discovery that they had smuggled rice from Paloh.

Mother said, that particular amount of rice tasted like food from heaven.

And the family received this gift only once. It was enough for the Sia family to show how much they loved their sister who was already a mother of two.