Long before the modern corporate world started talking about "customer centricity," my father was practicing it at the stalls of Trengannu Street. He ran our family’s socks stall, a place famous for having a wide selection for every imaginable occasion, from rugged work socks to delicate women’s stockings.
But it wasn't the inventory that kept them coming; it was the man. He was known in Chinatown as the 'King of Socks', because people from all over Singapore and Malaysia would come to buy from him.
To ensure a customer went home with the perfect fit, my father, without a moment's hesitation, would bend low, kneeling on the dirty ground, to inspect their feet. He would patiently advise them on the right material for their specific situation. And his pricing? Always transparent, always affordable, with absolutely no gimmicks. He treated every single customer with the exact same level of devotion, completely indifferent to how much profit he would make from the transaction.
His dedication brought our family a stroke of immense blessing. In July 1978, when our three licensed stalls on Trengannu Street were relocated to make way for the construction of the Chinatown Complex, my father was allocated the absolute best spot on Pagoda Street: right in the dead center, directly facing Trengannu Street. Pagoda Street was, and remains even in 2026, the most prime, bustling artery of Chinatown. Naturally, our business thrived there.
Yet, his day didn't start when the stall opens at 4:30 PM, and ends at 11 pm. Hours before that, he would be at our family shoe shop at Trengannu Street, quietly hunched over, repairing shoes for customers. For this grueling, meticulous work, he never collected a single cent. It was entirely free.
His hands were always busy, and his heart was always giving. As one of the founding members of the local Hawkers Self-help Group, he spent his mornings advocating for fellow hawkers who were in trouble. When the Seventh Month Hungry Ghost Festival arrived, he was the one walking door-to-door to collect community dues and shouting himself hoarse conducting auctions to raise funds for the festival. Again, all of this was done with no remuneration, with the sacrifice of his rest time, sometimes late into the night.
Day after day, year after year, he worked year-round. His only respite was a mere one or two days of rest during the Chinese New Year. At the end of the month, he took only a small basic salary from my mother, who managed the business finances. He said, that is "enough, as I don't go out, and I am a simple man".
For a long time, we took the roof over our heads for granted. But the truth is clear to me now: without his decades of relentless, uncomplaining labor, we could never have afforded our new 4-room HDB flat. My younger brother’s school fees and my own tertiary education fees were paid for by the sweat of a man who bent low so his children could stand tall.
I am documenting this today because the world quickly forgets the quiet ones. But I refuse to let his silence mean he is forgotten.
Love Intelligence Reflection
In Love Intelligence (LQ), we define true power not by how many people serve you, but by how deeply you are willing to serve others. My father’s willingness to bend low to look at a stranger's feet wasn't a sign of submission; it was the ultimate expression of a high Love Quotient.
He understood that a life of contribution is measured by the stability you give to your community and your family, not the weight of your own wallet. This Father's Day, let us remember that the most profound legacies are often built by those who never asked for the spotlight, but simply showed up to work every single day.
This is the sixth in a series of articles dedicated to honoring my late father. Other 5 articles:
1. The 4D Big Punter https://andyngtrainer.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-secret-under-mattress-why-would-79.html
2. Fight between Ch 8 and U https://andyngtrainer.blogspot.com/2026/05/fierce-battle-channel-8-vs-channel-u.html
3. Head Bleeds when Chair falls https://andyngtrainer.blogspot.com/2026/05/head-bleeding-when-chair-falls.html
4. Sleeping with the Rats and Cockroaches https://andyngtrainer.blogspot.com/2026/05/sleeping-with-rats-and-cockroaches.html
5. Lazy, Irresponsible and Never Make Enough
https://andyngtrainer.blogspot.com/2026/05/lazy-irresponsible-and-never-make-enough.html
Comments
Post a Comment