A little help from the next generation
But instead of closing the stall after failing to sell off their business, Wee Kim decided to take over the reins from her older siblings, with continued help from her niece and daughter (both of whom have been involved with the biz “for more than ten years”). Hwee Peng will continue to drop by and help out during the busy lunch rush, while the other siblings will enjoy their well-deserved retirement.
She says, “It would be a pity to close our stall after so many years. We decided to keep running it for now, and see if the next generation [who have full-time office jobs and previously said they didn’t want to take over the business] is willing to help us with backend work. If they could take turns on the weekend to help us fry the chilli paste or do other simple tasks, it would ease our workload by a lot.”
Indeed, she says that her son and some of his cousins have already agreed to help out, and are in the midst of arranging a roster – though she admits that she isn’t sure how long this arrangement can last. She also feels that it will be an uphill battle trying to pass the stall wholesale over to the next generation.
“If I can hand the biz over to [my family’s] next generation, that would be even better,” she muses wistfully. “But nowadays, everyone is educated. If I asked you to do this job, would you? It’s very tough. You need to get up at 5am and work until 8pm. The money isn’t easy to earn. Some of my nieces say, ‘If I work a regular job, I will get leave and MCs’. For us hawkers, we have to work on weekends and holidays. Who wants to do that now?”
Lai Heng Minced Meat Noodle is at #01-611 Blk 73, Lor 4 Toa Payoh, S310073. Tel: 9620-2074. Open daily except Wed 8am – 4pm. More info via Facebook.
Photos: Pornsak Soi/Facebook, Malcolm David/Facebook, Lai Heng Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle
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