Our paternal grandfather (Lau Keng Hong), brought Dad to Singapore in 1936. Dad was 6 years old then. He told us about the boat trip that took 60 days from YongChun County, Fujian Province to Singapore.
Like many from south China, immigration was the only way out of the dire living conditions in the villages and a shot at seeking a break in Nanyang.
Grandfather was in the fabric trade and Dad helped him in his youth. They lived in Lorong 27, Geylang for many years. There former homes are now part of the road leading to the Aljunied MRT station saved for some shop houses still there. Dad was to be a bus conductor, an insurance agent and for almost 48 years thereafter, the secretary of the Geylang Villagers Association.
After our paternal grandmother passed away, grandfather's health also deteriorated. Though he was more senior, his physical constitution was far stronger than hers. She passed away from a heart attack one night at home.
Grandfather suffered from severe dementia.
When our youngest Uncle died from alcoholism at 43. Dad took the initiative to propose that Grandfather be placed at a home. By then he was already unable to communicate and could not recognise anyone. Dad chose one near Telok Kurau as it was one nearest to our place where he could visit.
His visits took place weekly and in each occasion, he would bring along three siew mais for grandfather as that was his favourite snack. He would relate Grandfather's condition to Mum after each visit. So we found out through their chats.
Dad fulfilled his filial duties the best way he knew. There was much disagreement amongst the siblings on how to pay for and manage his care. I still remember that Dad would help his father to send money to his youngest brother in YongChun for many years. After grandfather passed on, Dad continued to do so whenever he could though it was very trying since our family of 8 was also going through our own hardship.
Grandfather passed away at the home in the middle of the night. We were informed by the director in the morning. In the course of his entire adult life, Dad kept to his confucian values of always being respectful of Grandfather and acceding to his demands and calls for help whenever things happened to his younger siblings and we have had many after midnight calls of such nature.
Dad brought Grandfather back to China when he was in his 40s and the later in his 70s. Subsequently, he brought both Grandfather and Grandmother back once. My trip with Dad and Mum in 2003 was his 4th trip back since the journey to Singapore in 1936.
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