Section 49: Ten Houses

10 Houses – Heart-warming Stories of a Tiny Village

In a small alley, there lies a tiny village with only 10 houses. This village is situated on the outskirts of town, in stark contrast to the bustling streets of Bahau. Though separated by only a street, these two places are vastly different, like parallel worlds, each with its unique ambiance of life.

This tiny village is called "10 Houses," a simple and straightforward name that accurately reflects its reality. The 10 houses are not just homes to 10 families. One of these houses was rented and sublet by the grandmother of the renowned singer Fish Leong, during a period of poverty. In those times, the house was packed with several households, and each small room was crowded with seven or eight people. This was the common situation in every house.

However, despite the congestion, the residents here forged deep emotional bonds with each other. Their shared living environment brought them closer together, and they supported each other. In times of hardship, they learned to share, understand, and tolerate. Every family gave their all, striving for a better life. Chan Kai Too is one of the residents of these 10 houses, and these wooden houses bear witness to the passage of time, narrating the stories of the residents.

In the early 1950s, Chan Kai Too's father was a hawker. It was during this period that the popular dish "laksa mee" originated in this area. Fish Leong's grandmother also ran a small coffee shop here. Chan Kai Too recalls that there were vegetable and flower gardens in front of his family's house. People lived a simple life, relying on the land. From here, you could overlook a small river behind the present-day funeral parlour. This place was once known as "Japan Street" during World War II.

However, in the 1990s, a consortium purchased the land here and developed it into a commercial area. Chan Kai Too mentioned that the old wooden houses disappeared in the tide, replaced by modern buildings and commercial facilities. Shops, office buildings, and shopping centres rapidly emerged, bringing prosperity and business opportunities but also more noise and congestion.

The tiny village "10 Houses" may face many changes, but its heart-warming stories will be forever remembered. It witnessed the unity and mutual support of its residents and documented the evolution of the times. Regardless of the changes, this tiny village will continue to pass down its unique warmth and emotions.