Community worked hard for what they have

THE article “Not a sin for the Chinese to be rich” (Sunday Star, July 5) really resonates with me.

As the writer noted, many early Chinese immigrants here (and in many other parts of the world) worked very hard to survive and eventually amassed wealth, and their descendants continue to emulate their industriousness to be achievers.

Though I do not know any Chinese tycoons personally, I do know many ordinary Chinese who worked really hard to feed and clothe their children and provide education for them, and ultimately managed to lead comfortable lives in towns.

My parents who came to this country in the late 1930s were among these simple people who succeeded in improving their lives solely through their own efforts.

After the Second World War, they opened a restaurant in a small town. Their working day began at dawn and would only end late at night. The shop was open throughout the year with nary a day off except for a couple of days during Chinese New Year.

All of us children had to help out once we were old enough. We had chores to do before and after school.

My parents were so hard-working that our shop not only served lunch, dinner and supper, we also sold dim sum in the morning.

During the month of the mooncake festival, we made and sold mooncakes.

At other times, there would be orders for traditional Chinese biscuits for engagements and weddings.

We also catered for wedding banquets and in the early years, even provided delivery service, come rain or shine.

That was how hard my parents worked to raise 11 children, and saved enough to build a four-storey building in 1971. This was the first such building in the little town.

Today, many other tall buildings have sprung up, and our family restaurant is still there, run by my siblings. It is the oldest Chinese restaurant in the town.

I cannot agree more with the writer that “...the country and politicians have to be fair to the Chinese. This community should not be demonised for the wealth they have generated through hard work, frugality, entrepreneurship and intelligence.”