Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle Hawker, 73, Who’d ‘Rather Die At Home’ Than See Doctor After Customer Shoved Him, Finally Goes For Checkup

Once went straight back to work soon after breaking his leg

According to Ray, his father’s insistence on working through injuries is nothing new.

“I remember when he broke his leg in an accident, he went straight back to work right after he was discharged from the hospital. Madness,” he quips.

Ray’s brother-in-law had attempted to take Mr Yeo to see a doctor on Saturday, shortly after he was shoved to the floor by a customer who was unhappy the senior patted his young daughter on her head, but the elderly hawker refused.

The family was concerned because Mr Yeo has implants on both sides of his hips after his accident years ago.

His older son-in-law, private-hire driver Zheng Zhi Cheng (transliterated), 54, told Shin Min Daily News that Yeo has had difficulty walking for years. “Many people ask why he always has to hold onto tables when he walks. The truth is that he has difficulty with his legs and needs to hold onto something when walking. The doctor also told him that he must never fall,” he said. The family is worried the fall might have displaced the senior’s hip implants.

“Would rather die at home” than see a doctor

“My brother-in-law came over yesterday wanting to take him to the doctor, but my dad said he would rather die at home,” Ray told us on Sunday.

Ray adds that his father is very superstitious, particularly during the seventh lunar month, also known as Hungry Ghost Month, and refuses to visit places he believes have a “bad aura”, such as hospitals.

“He said he’s okay, but I knew he was trying to act tough”

Although Mr Yeo claimed that he was fine, Ray suspected that his father was concealing his discomfort so the family would not make him seek medical attention.

“He said he’s okay, but he was looking for his walking stick this morning. I knew he was trying to act tough,” Ray says. “He knows that if he says he’s in pain, we’ll definitely bring him to the doctor.”

Finally agreed to medical examination

On Monday morning, Ray posted a photo of Mr Yeo dressed in a hospital gown and seated in a wheelchair.

“Finally… my stubborn ol’ man has agreed to go to the hospital and get himself properly checked,” he wrote on Instagram. “I just hope he didn’t finally agree because the pain has become unbearable.”

Ray added that he was “incredibly relieved” that his father was finally receiving medical attention.

“Thank you to everyone who has been checking in and showing so much care and concern for my father. For now, his health remains our priority,” he wrote.

The family has not shared the outcome of Mr Yeo’s medical examination at the time of writing. 8days.sg’s could not reach Ray for an update after the senior’s medical tests.

Roxy Square outlet temporarily closed

In another Instagram Story, the family announced that Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle’s original Roxy Square outlet would remain closed until Thursday.

The stall has operated at the mall’s basement kopitiam since 1984. The elderly Mr Yeo took over the business from his aunt, who founded it.

It’s unclear if Ray’s offshoot noodle stall at The Bullion Hawker Bar along East Coast road remains open throughout this period.

Hawker initially upset that son publicised incident online

Ray shares that Mr Yeo was initially unhappy that his son had publicised the incident by sharing the CCTV footage of the altercation on social media.

“He was actually quite angry that I took this online because he already said he didn’t want to pursue [the matter],” says Ray.

“He’s lazy to go through the procedures. He knows how troublesome it is — you know, old man.”

Ray believes his mother would have reacted differently had she been present during the altercation.

“I’m 100 per cent sure that if my mum was there, she wouldn’t let this man go so easily because she’s the one who’s always protecting my father,” he says.

Took Panadol and returned to work a day after dispute

Speaking to 8world on Sunday, Mr Yeo said his back began hurting two to three hours after he was shoved to the ground.

“Right now, I’m taking medicine and [the pain] is controlled. I took Panadol. It’s a bit better now,” he said.

The medicine apparently eased his discomfort enough for him to return to the stall the following day.

“That’s why I could come down today. If not, I wouldn’t be able to. If it hurt, I wouldn’t be able to come down,” said Mr Yeo, who described himself as very hardworking and said he works throughout the year without taking breaks.

He also said that he wanted to let the man who assaulted him off.
 
“I don’t really mind, just let him off. It’s okay to just leave it,” he said. “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

However, Mr Yeo’s family decided to lodge a police report after reviewing the CCTV footage.

Patted girl's head because she was “very adorable”

The incident happened at about 4.40pm on Saturday at the Roxy Square food court.

Mr Yeo, who has a leg injury and has difficulty walking, said he had been holding onto tables for support when he passed the little girl.

“She was very adorable, so I patted her head. Old people like to pat young children’s heads,” he told 8world.

Mr Yeo said the girl’s father asked why he had touched her, and he explained that he did so because she was cute. According to Mr Yeo, the man became unhappy and shoved him to the ground.

Younger son says dad struck head as he fell

Mr Yeo’s younger son, Yeo Zhi Wei, 29, who was at the Roxy Square stall during the dispute, told Shin Min that his dad hit a table as he fell and struck his head, causing it to be swollen.

“I angrily asked [the man] how he could treat an elderly person like that. If he were your father, would you treat him this way?” he said.

According to the senior Mr Yeo, the other man later apologised and offered to buy him a cup of tea.

The family only realised the gravity of the situation after reviewing the CCTV footage, said Mr Yeo’s older son-in-law, Zheng.

“His behaviour was really too violent. He practically dragged my father-in-law and threw him hard onto the ground,” he said.

“If he felt that my father-in-law’s actions were inappropriate, he could have reasoned with him or called the police instead of using force and pushing him to the ground.”

The police confirmed that they have identified a 40-year-old man in connection with the assault. Investigations are ongoing.

Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle at Roxy Sq is closed till 20 Aug. #01-64 Roxy Sq 1, 50 East Coast Rd, S428769. 2nd outlet at The Bullion Hawker Bar, 396 East Coast Rd, S428994. More info via Instagram.