Our Grandparents' Stories

[skunk]

jedamum:

love them but \"His money was spent on booze and chicken for himself, while the rest of the family ate plain rice\"?
i cannot understand the rationale.

yes, i also cannot understand LOL. But he really loved kids, well, or at least he loved to cuddle them LOL. I still have pics of him cuddling me as an infant.

Or maybe he loved his family, but loved himself even more? hehe.

Anyway, i won't wanna pass too harsh a judgement on my own granddad, as he had been R.I.P for almost 20 years already.

[skunk]

The lasting legacy he left in the clan, was his draconian strictness, which resulted in many of his children having successful academic careers. My dad told me, when he failed his spelling test, my granddad would tie him to the rambutan tree in the yard, and whip him with a belt. It sounds crazy now, but in those days, that was how real men were raised. And my dad said he was very grateful for those whippings, it made him who he is today


In the old days, people were really made of steel. Today, they're just marshmellows lol

[jedamum]

skunk:

My dad told me, when he failed his spelling test, my granddad would tie him to the rambutan tree in the yard, and whip him with a belt.

Oh. you did not state this initially; if yes, then i see that he sure love his children. one of the best things a parent can give his kids in those days is a proper education; your dad is really lucky.
i read on and..meaning your grandma is a samsui woman?? she sure is a tough cookie.

[skunk]

jedamum:

i read on and..meaning your grandma is a samsui woman?? she sure is a tough cookie.

not specifically a \"samsui woman\", as in those who cannot marry. She was just an ordinary construction worker. She always told me about the days she mixed cement lol. Now she's still alive, around 93 years old (in the old days, people don't really record their date of birth).

yeah she's super tough, all her children n grandchildren got whipped by her too LOL

In contrast, my grandfather's first wife was very indulgent to the children....and voila, a generation of underachievers were \"made\".

[tutormum]

My paternal grandfather was a sailor and went to India and of course Singapore. One day, he decided to immigrate to Singapore and brought along my grandmother and my dad who was about 5 or 6. Before this, must tell a story within a story. You see, my dad was not their biological child. He was a love child of one of my grandfather's so called brothers - in those days, (according to my grandmother) if you bear the same surname you must acknowledge each other as brothers. My grandfather was considered the eldest cos of his age (I think) and this brother came to him for help. This brother had an affair with a woman and his wife refused to allow him to take the woman as his concubine (which was allowed during those times). So this brother bo bian and asked my grandfather to adopt the child, who was my dad. So, this so called brother was actually my biological paternal grandfather. The woman left after giving away my dad and nothing was heard about her from then on. My grandfather's so called brother and his family also came to Singapore. His wife had 7 or 9 sons (I can't remember) and a baby girl when the war broke out. My biological grandfather asked my paternal grandfather to run to Bukit Timah Reserve to hide from the Japanese but after discussing with my grandmother, my paternal grandfather decided to stay put in Chinatown. So, my biological grandfather took along all his sons and left his wife and daughter behind as he thought that the baby girl's cries would put their lives in danger. One of the reasons that my biological grandfather asked my paternal grandfather along was cos he wanted my dad to be with him. However, as my paternal grandfather refused to join him, my dad was naturally left behind also. In the end, my paternal grandfather received news that his so called brother and all his sons were killed by the Japanese. This brother's wife and daughter survived the war together with my paternal grandfather's family. This is really ren sian bu ru tian sian (hope I get the Chinese correct - can anybody teach me how to write Chinese words here? :please: :please:)

I can't imagine what if my biological grandmother allowed my biological grandfather to marry his mistress. :nailbite: My biological grandfather would have then decided my dad's fate and I won't be here. heng ah. Anyway, I believe that God has a hand in our fate.

[winth]

My maternal greatgrandmother married twice when her first husband died from some disease. She married his best friend as during those times it’s not safe for woman to bring up a family alone.


And back in those days, it’s quite common to adopt, especially when they know it’s a girl.

As a result, my greatgrandmother had a daughter and an adopted daughter from her first marriage and 4 sons and another adopted daughter from her second. My grandmother is the eldest and her own flesh and blood. She worked as a seamstress, while her 2nd husband toiled away to bring up the family.

My mum told me those when I asked about my grandma, and how my youngest grand-aunt got her name as ‘Hurry up’ (direct hokkien translation).

One day, while my greatgrandmother was sewing her customer’s clothes, her pregnant friend came to inform her that she’s giving birth like 2 days later. They will be giving away this baby regardless of their gender since they already have like 5 children, and it’s on first come first served basis.

The day came and my greatgrandmother was busy finishing up her client’s clothes when she suddenly remembered that the baby might be due that day. She put down all her stuff, ran across the streets and was panting away when she reached her friend’s house. The baby was just newly borned and my greatgrandmother was obviously the first to reach, so naturally she got to adopt the baby girl. And just few seconds after her, another Indian childless couple was panting and hoping to be able to adopt the baby too.

Well, my greatgrandmother told my grand-aunt that if she hadn’t ‘hurried’, she would have well been adopted by an another family.

My greatgrandmother lived to a ripe old age and had very filial children, even from her adopted. She even got to take care of my youngest brother who are like her greatgrandchildren. She’s real traditional, wearning a light-blue half-cheongsam top and black silky pants and she always carried a bun. And though she’s very very old, you can see from her face that she must have been a beauty when she was young cos of her delicate features and blue eyes.

[Blobbi]

Wah, just stumbled on this thread and love! Going through slowly …


Very interesting story, Winth. But how come you great grandmother has blue eyes?

[winth]

Blobbi:

Wah, just stumbled on this thread and love! Going through slowly ...


Very interesting story, Winth. But how come you great grandmother has blue eyes?

I dunno actually. But it's definitely blue cos I love to stare into her eyes when I was little.

If only I had such genes for my eyes...

[skunk]

winth:

If only I had such genes for my eyes...

Blue eyes is a recessive gene. It is apparently most common in northern European populations, although i suspect some north Indians have it, as they were descended from the soldiers of Alexander The Great when he conquered north India.

[Blobbi]

Ok, here's mine.


My mother's side was super loaded. Yap, chauffer, servants etc. When my uncle got married, my PIL (who are part of the teochew clan but didn't know my family then) remember the dowry that was put on display. My greatgrandfather was the one who made all the money although he didn't have much of an education. He was just another dirt poor coolie that stepped off the boat when he first arrived. I remember all those grand portraits of him in Manchu official gear, not because his family was of the official class, but because he went back to China after he made his fortune, \"bought\" a title, and brought over a young wife for my grandfather. This grandmother was 15, very elegant, and an \"educated\" lady, while my grandfather was only 13 at the time. I was told that he was made to marry early because he, uh, peed in bed often, and marriage (sex. more like it) was the way to cure this. Anyway, after my greatgrandfather's death, the money was split up among his many brothers and his son. So today, the only signs of wealth is with my very wealthy second cousins (they're still famous in Singapore).

My father's side is a lot more mixed and scattered. A lot of talk about mad geniuses, aiyo, and one skeleton in the closet where one mad genius grand uncle who may have, gulp, murdered his wife. :shock: All this is hearsay hah, and anyway, no more evidence already, I'm sure.