The One Dollar Char Kway Teow

As I look back at my articles, I realize that throughout time my articles have become longer and longer. I have written about many topics; my personal endeavours, my views on certain issues, some movie reviews, and Top 10 movie lists. But I think this article would be fairly shorter than my previous ones. This time I only have a short story to tell. But it seems to be a meaningful story, well at least in my perspective. 

I think it was around 2 weeks ago; I was scheduled to do my routine blood investigation. This three monthly blood investigation started when I found out I have high level of cholesterol more than a year ago. Controlling my diet, and exercising wasn’t helpful. I did not manage to bring my cholesterol down. The doctors think that my liver is not regulating my cholesterol levels properly on its own. All I can do now is to try keep it under control, and I probably have to start taking cholesterol medicine in a few years time; not very good news. Well, enough about my cholesterol. Let’s get back to the story.

Central Restaurant, Taiping

I had to fast at least 10 hours to do my blood test. At around 8.00am, I went and saw my wife to have my blood taken. Once I was done with the blood taking, I needed my breakfast. The destination wasn’t that hard to decide as I always end up going to the same place almost every morning, Central Restaurant. The main reason I go to Central Restaurant is because it’s very near Hospital Taiping, the place where I work. The motorcycle ride to the restaurant is merely two minutes away.

I got myself seated and ordered the usual hot Milo. As I waited for my drink to arrive, I scanned the stalls looking for an option for breakfast. I had to take time to decide because the usual stall I get my breakfast from was closed. On any other day, I would have had “Nasi Lemak” with some “Dim Sum”. But unfortunately that particular stall was closed. I had a few choices; a western breakfast, “Mihun Soup”, or maybe “Char Kway Teow”. The “Char Kway Teow” stall has been around for many years, even since I was schooling. By the way I have been visiting this restaurant with friends since my schooldays as it’s just across the road from my secondary school, St. George’s Institution. So, it wouldn’t be a wonder when I say I have a lot of memories here.

I decided to have the “Char Kway Teow”; it’s been quite some time since I last had it. But quite some time in this case just means a few months back. My drink arrived, and after a few minutes I was seated enjoying my “Char Kway Teow’ too. There weren’t many customers at the restaurant as it was a working day morning. With no customers left to serve, the uncle from the “Char Kway Teow” stall made breakfast for himself. He was having “Char Kway Teow” of course. He came and sat down at my table. The restaurant had numerous empty tables; he knows me over the years and probably sat with me to have a few words. 

The first few exchange of words were normal ones. He asked whether I was not working today, I told him I would be going to work once I’m done with breakfast. He asked about the whereabouts of some of my other friends, one he knew by name and the others he tried to describe how he remembered them. After a few questions and answers, we went silent and continued eating our “Char Kway Teow”. Then it came to my mind that I have been having his “Char Kway Teow” since schooldays and I started wondering how long he has been selling “Char Kway Teow” here.

“Uncle, you stall here how long already?” I asked him not wanting to keep wondering. 

He thought for awhile, “More than 10 years already.”

I made a simple calculation in my head; it’s already been 15 years since I left school, “20 years got ah uncle? You have been selling “Char Kway Teow” here since I was in school.” 

This time it was his turn to do some calculations in his head, “17 years.”

I felt that he has been here longer than 17 years, but I took his word for it. I’m sure he remembers better when he first opened his stall. After answering, he smiled to himself. It was a small laughter, a chuckle if I might call it, as if he was recalling some old fond memory. 

“Why uncle?” I asked him.

“I think it was around 10 years ago; maybe 8 years. I don’t quite remember. It always happened on Fridays. Boys from your school, the ones from poor families. Most of them Indians. You see their clothes also you know they don’t have much money. They will come to me and ask me to fry for them “Char Kway Teow” for One Dollar (that would be One Ringgit, the oldies still call it as One Dollar). That time the “Char Kway Teow” price was already 2 Dollar 10 Cents (RM2.10). But I see them, I know they are hungry; I don’t want to say no. So I tell them, can. I will fry for them “Char Kway Teow” for One Dollar. I make the portion a bit smaller. They will eat happily,” the uncle explained reminded of the times he used to make One Dollar “Char Kway Teow” for my school students. 

“That’s’ very nice of you, uncle,” I said appreciating what he did.

“But after so many years, there will be some working people come to my stall, normal work and also good work. They will buy “Char Kway Teow” from me and then they will ask me whether I remember them. I old already, I cannot remember many things. I will tell them I don’t remember you. That’s when they will tell me ‘Uncle, it’s me, one of the One Dollar Kway Teow’ boys. They still remember me and still say thank you for the One Dollar Char Kway Teow I made for them years ago,” the uncle explained with a smile of pure happiness on his face. 

I was happy for him, really happy for him, “Uncle, people never forget the good things you do for them. You are a good person, that’s why you don’t keep count or remember the good deeds that you did. But the person that received it will always remember and appreciate it.”

He nodded. I didn’t know whether he was agreeing to what I said, or simply acknowledging it. But he deserves the appreciation. I was done with my breakfast, I thanked him and left. The story stayed with me and as means of spreading positive words, I shared the story with a few people. All of them were delighted to hear the story. This uncle is probably more than 70 years old and he probably doesn’t make much anyways from his small “Char Kway Teow” stall. But that didn’t stop him for doing something good. There was no excuse, and there was no reasoning; he just did it. It was something good and he just did it. 

Sometimes in life you might feel down, tired, no more strength to fight on, or just given up. But its stories like this, that gives us a small push. A small burst of energy for us to get up, and to make us feel that all is not that bad after all. This uncle’s “One Dollar Char Kway Teow” story gave me that small positivity on that very morning. That’s why I’m putting it here, in my blog, so that this small good deed filled with positivity can make someone else feel better too.