Toa Payoh wanton noodle stall suspends operations

However, he understood that taking time to recuperate was important, not only for his own health but also to ease his family’s worries.

He was also concerned that his wife would become increasingly anxious and his children would be at a loss over how to care for the family if he did not prioritise his recovery.

He has since completed one round of treatment. Although he gets slightly breathless when walking and tires more easily, he said the illness has not significantly affected his daily life.

Grateful for customers’ concerns

He also expressed gratitude for the concern shown by customers and said he hopes to reopen the stall if his health improves.

After running the business at the same location for decades, He said many customers have become close friends. Some had even invited the couple to go on trips with them, he said.

He also shared that he had considered shortening his operating hours or opening fewer days a week as early as six years ago, although he had no immediate plans to retire at the time.

Now, however, he will have to assess his health before deciding on the future of the business.

He said he had discussed the matter with his two children, leaving it to them to decide whether they wanted to take over the stall. If they are keen, he is willing to help out. Otherwise, he hopes to find someone suitable to continue the business.

Wife remains by his side throughout illness

His wife, Ye, 52, stood by him throughout his illness, urging him to stay strong and face the challenges ahead.

Ye said she was devastated when she first learnt of He’s diagnosis, and had to put the stall’s operations on hold to prioritise his health.

He often spoke of his wife as his biggest source of support. Ye, meanwhile, urged him to keep fighting and recover so they could visit her hometown in Malaysia and travel together again.

The couple had initially planned a trip to Xinjiang, China early next year, but will have to put it on hold. He now hopes to take his wife to Finland one day.

His eldest daughter fondly recalled how her father would spend his free time taking his children to the library and cycling with them.

“He often tells us that we are not wealthy, but he sent us for piano, art, and swimming lessons since we were young. He is the perfect father,” his daughter said.

‘We’re all friends’: Hawkers, diners

Speaking to Stomp, Ah Yann, a hawker at a neighbouring seafood stall, said she had known the stall owner’s wife for about 30 years, having grown up with her.

The 51-year-old said that when she started working at the neighbouring stall about three years ago, the two women were already acquainted with each other.

Ah Yann said she knew that He had been unwell, but refrained from prying into the situation.

“We’re all good friends,” she said, adding that she used to enjoy their wanton noodles almost daily before the stall suspended operations.

Kelly, who runs a stall opposite Pin Xiang for almost four years, also described the couple as her friends.

“I cannot bear to see them absent, we’ve all been working here for so long,” the 46-year-old told Stomp.

She added that the closure had also affected neighbouring businesses, as Pin Xiang was a long-established and well-known stall that drew crowds to the area.

An elderly diner at the hawker centre, who declined to be identified, told Stomp that she already misses Pin Xiang, which had apparently been closed for about two weeks.

“I always want to eat it. I’m sad because they’ve been here for so long, they are like my friends,” she said.

Having lived in the neighbourhood for about 50 years, she said she used to patronise the stall three to four times a week and enjoyed all of its offerings.

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