A few weeks ago, her cousin passed away in a motor cycle accident in a small road, while she was on her way to work.
this story is written to remember the kind hearted mee stall owner who was very kind to widows ad orphans.
The young Foochow widow never sat in a Sibu coffee shop for a cup of coffee, even if a friend offered to give her a treat. She was trained by her father never to accept any treat from another person, because as they were not so well endowed, they might not be able to repay the kindness.
When she could, she would always frugally spend her money to give treats to her own brood of 7 children.
The children loved kampua but she could not afford to buy 7 bowls of kampua at one time. She thought that her own home made kampua would be just good enough and cheaper to boot. 1 piece of dried noodles (chieng mieng gang) was only about 20 centrs then.
But what she could afford was take away wonton skins soup for her children. She would send one of her daughters with a tin soup carrier to the noodle shop and buy 3 dollars worth of wonton skins soup.
Her cousin, a kind woman would also throw in a few wonton full of meat filling and spring onions as a bonus.
In time all her children grew up and went for further studies as she made sure that they did well in school, even though it was very difficult.
The mee stall owner cousin also saw her own two children growing up. The two women became closer as they grew older.
Sometimes it is the quality and the love that goes into a soup which makes a dish memorable. The widow's children would always remember the kindness of the noodle seller who made the
wonton skin soup.
May Aunty rest in peace.
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