We were called the "Across River People" because we lived across the Rajang River from Sibu Town. People who lived in Sibu were called " Barak people", meaning bazaar people. One day she came to visit my Great Grand Parents to tell them about her plight.
It was before the Second World War, when every Chinese in Sibu was contributing a bit of money to help China fight against the Japanese. It was called the China Relief Fund, which was also approved by the Rajah of Sarawak.
She was a widow who was supported by an only son, but tragedy struck her when her son died in an accident and she had to look after her three small grandchildren. She had no other means of income except to go around begging.
However my great grandfather and grandfather were very kind. they took her in as a cleaner even though they had enough employees to clean the rice mill and ice mill.
Her role was simple. Each day she would come from morning to late afternoon. When farmers came to mill their rice, she would help fill their bags with newly milled rice, scoop the husk into another bag or two depending on the amount of padi . Her "commission" was one condensed milk tin of milled rice from the farmer.
She would get quite a good amount of rice on the days when many farmers came. She was a very good cleaner and she got along well with everyone. When the tide came up she would wash the floors of the mill. However some days she would get only one or two tins of rice and my great grandfather would give her some extra rice.
In the late afternoon she would paddle her small boat and went back to the village with the little cotton flour bag of rice. She must have felt on the top of the world.
She was always very grateful to our family for the chance to earn a living in this way. And this story makes me think of the old Testament story of Ruth who received surplus barley from Boaz to bring home to her mother in law.
(Note : This was before the time of Social Welfare Department which gives aid to destitute widows.)
"Blessed are those who show mercy for they shall receive mercy."
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