When we were in Primary School, we had a beautiful Mrs Chang as a our English and Arithmetic teacher. She always had a handkerchief to wipe off her sweat on her forehead. She tucked the nice handkerchief into her sleeve at her arm pit where it would stay snuck and safe.
We enjoyed her lessons very obediently and we did our homework.
What was interesting to us in those days was the fact she lived in a shop house. That was a mark of wealth so we were very impressed.
But it was later in life that we learned about how her father in law became rich in Sibu. Here is the story of how a small feet grandmother of Tiong Wang Ming, who came to Sibu to manage the family and to help the grandson stand on his two feet before returning to China. What a wonderful love she showed her grandson, who must have represented her eldest son in her heart.
Was she a visionary? Did she foretell that her grandson would be a leader among the Kutiens of Sibu?
Grandmother Ting saw many disasters in her family but she was quite a decision maker and management expert. She in a way practice PLOC, Plan, lead, organize and control.
When her first son, (Wang Ming's father) died in Sibu after arriving in 1901 with Wong Nai Siong, she must have been devastated. He was only 24 years old then and had died in less than 3 months after reaching the new land. She and her eldest son must have had visions of a better future. What was she to do with a daughter in law and two young grandsons? Wang Ming was only 7 years old. As the family was poor, she encouraged her young daughter in law to remarry. She kept Wang Ming with her.
When Wang Ming was 9 years old, his grandfather who was studying in Christian College, Fuzhou passed away. He was only 58 years old. The poor widow had to manage somehow with her two sons.
She then encouraged her sons to try their fortune in Sibu again and she would follow as soon as possible. A woman of less courage would not have done that.
In spite of the fears of the tropical climate of the new land and bad health , in January 1910, Wang Ming's two uncles arrived in Sibu. In July that year, Wang Ming and his grandmother arrived in Ah Poh and were reunited with his uncles. The family worked hard to clear some land for agriculture.
At the same time Wang Ming studied a bit during his spare time, encouraged by his grandmother and uncles.
In 1915, when he was 15 years old, his grandmother made a brave decision to divide their family property fairly to prevent any family issues later. The rubber trees were growing well (2000 plus trees). Wang Ming was given 1/4 of a share of the property. Wang Ming represented his late father. His uncles were given equal shares.
In 1917, Great Grandmother Ting arranged for Wang Ming to marry 14 year old Hii Jeng Yieng. It was a very outstanding match made in heaven according to relatives in later days. After his marriage Wang Ming went back to school to study as he had a good helper in his wife. He graduated from primary school at the age of 21.
In 1926, encouraged by his grandmother, he and his relatives went to Binatang to open up land. There the group were blessed were success although at first they met many difficulties. His grandmother was pleased by the success. His two uncles remained in Binatang to look after their farms, with his grandmother's blessings, while Wang Ming supervised the property in Ah Poh.
In 1928 , his grandmother decided to return to China, accompanied by Wang Ming's third uncle and aunty. In 18 years his grandmother was happy to return to her original home for her "old age". She had also managed her family well and they had acquired a satisfactory fortune.
the Foochows call her skill as Tong Nga, or good housekeeping. She was a good Tongnga Moo. By her example, the family prospered and Wang Ming was groomed to lead the community. As a God fearing family, they continue to enjoy her legacy.
4 years after her return to Kutien, his grandmother passed away.
(This is my version, based on Wong Meng Lei's publication of a book on Uncle Tiong Wang Ming.)
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