In the olden days, in 1950's most down river and upriver relatives would ask for a night's or two stay in the shophouses. Most shopowners would be very welcoming. a plank bed would be prepared immediately by putting five pieces of plank on two benches.
Many relatives would come to stay one or two night because they had to visit the sick in Lau King Howe Hospital or even seek treatment themselves.
Some relatives even have extra canvas beds to welcome their visitors.
According to Mrs. Wong Kah Muo, who owned a furniture shop with her late husband, along Blacksmith Road, these relatives would be very grateful and they would bring gifts of live chicken or duck on their next trip, Many would only stay one or two nights, but there was one relative who stayed the whole month for confinement!!
This was the kind of hospitality extended by the Wong family in those days.
Foochows practise altruism, doing good for others. John Wesley also preached about doing good.
Today with lots of inns, lodging houses, good hotels people from outlying villages of Sibu do not have to bother their relatives who own shop houses. They can find alternative accommodation easily.,
The Clan Association also provided accommodation at $2.00 to $6.00 in the olden days.
Mrs. Wong recently told Sarawakiana that during her late husband's funeral, so many came to convey their sympathies. There were so many whom she could not even remember they had stayed in his her shop houses. These grateful mourners made A GREAT impression on her.
the late Mr. Wong, a carpenter, was such a good man.
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