Sibu Tales : Belian Wood Tub

My grandfather's cousin made a lot of these Ern Char Tern at the back of Brooke Drive/Kung Ping Road, during the days when Foochows did a lot of rubber tapping and odd jobs in the 1930's- and through the Japanese Occupation. 

This grand uncle's children grew up humble and sincere...... His job was a very skilled job and being honest, he remained poor. It was know by many that his wooden tub never leaked because he was so skillful in shaping the wood and binding them together using metal strips. 

A modern bath tub made from wood. Alibaba Photo.

We are still in close contact with his son who is now more than 80 years old. Like his late father he kind, generous and humble man. However through hard work and careful spending he has become very wealthy.

I remember my grandfather's ern char tern made by grand uncle,which was used by my great grandmother to wash her bound feet. She spent more than one hour washing and cleaning her feet. Water used by my great grandmother was always heated up by the afternoon sun.

Besides believing in God, a good Foochow man's most worthy values are honesty and humility.

Photo from Wikisource.