fbp
CommunityCerita Exclusive

From Working At 13yo In A Factory To Selling Mixed Rice, I’ve Spent My Life Supporting My Family & Raising 3 Kids

A story of hard work and sacrifice from those born in the 1970s.
Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya- Proper accreditation to WeirdKaya and consent from the interviewee are required.
In a village in Langkap, a young boy named Tan grew up surrounded by the sounds of the kampung, the smell of incense, and the constant buzz of responsibility.

As the second eldest among nine siblings, Tan’s childhood wasn’t filled with toys or playtime—it was all about survival.

- Advertisements -

At the age of 13, Tan began working at an incense factory, weaving sticks of prayer incense to help his family make ends meet.

- Advertisements -

Each bundle earned him RM4, and his days stretched from 2pm to late into the evening, where homework became nothing but a distant memory.

‘It was about survival, not just education’

By the time he reached Form 3, Tan was already paying RM120 in rent to help support his family.

- Advertisements -

When I was Form 5, my mom gave me RM110 to retake my exams. But just minutes before registering, I tore up the form. I was short of one credit and decided not to retake.

“Instead, I went back to work full-time in the factory because my family was struggling and had no money,” Tan recalled.

Life at home was chaotic, with a father who loved alcohol more than stability. As such, Tan shouldered the burden of being a steady hand for his siblings, especially after his mother passed when he was 21.

Although he worked tirelessly, he couldn’t seem to escape the constant tugging of hardship, which saw him working at several tobacco factories and having brief stints at vehicle assembly lines just to keep himself and the family financially afloat.

From working at 13yo in a factory to selling mixed rice, i’ve spent my life supporting my family & raising 3 kids | weirdkaya
Photo provided to WeirdKaya

Sold rojak, washed dishes, & cooked CKT

When he turned 23, Tan decided to venture into the hawker business and started small by selling rojak at night in Damansara while washing dishes during the day in Sunway.

The rojak business was rather modest, pulling in RM1,000 to RM2,000 monthly — which was impressive for a young man with minimal resources.

At the time, an income of RM1,000–RM2,000 for a person like me was considered very good.

“I was also equipped with basic cooking skills as me and my siblings had to help our mother prepare three meals a day in the kitchen from a young age,” he explained.

- Advertisements -

Not long after, Tan found himself learning the art of cooking char kuey teow from a Penangite and selling each plate for RM1.80 — a price which gradually increased as demand grew.

“On good days, I sold 100 plates and earned RM300 daily. For someone who never went to university, my income surpassed that of fresh graduates.

“However, the intense labour and constant need for manpower made me consider to pivot towards something different. And I eventually settled for the mixed rice business and I saw how much simpler it was,” he recalled.

- Advertisements -

Mastering the mixed rice business

At the age of 25, Tan started his first mixed rice stall in Ampang and soon witnessed a rapid growth in his business that grew in tandem with the area.

From working at 13yo in a factory to selling mixed rice, i’ve spent my life supporting my family & raising 3 kids | weirdkaya
Photo provided to WeirdKaya

Along with two other staff members who helped him with cooking, buying ingredients, and handling sales, Tan saw his income hit RM800 daily.

For a time, life seemed stable. He bought his first car, an Iswara, and started saving for a better future. However, business ventures weren’t without its risks and it was no different for Tan.

- Advertisements -

In 1998, Tan made a misstep, investing RM20,000 into a seafood restaurant that folded within six months. The loss then pushed him to take on a grocery business, which also collapsed after three years.

However, these setbacks didn’t deter Tan, who found his footing once again by selling prawn noodles in Kajang while his children attended kindergarten, though the business was just average and not particularly successful.

More than just a business

A year later, Tan returned to the mixed rice business, this time on a larger scale. Recognizing the growing demand in a bustling area, he set up a stall that quickly gained traction.

His team of workers, including himself, would cook approximately 150 kilograms of rice daily and serve hundreds of customers.

As time passed, the business flourished and Tan’s income soared to greater heights. While the daily grind was intense, the rewards were well worth the effort.

It was also during this time where Tan’s family life saw significant improvements. With the steady flow of income, he was able to invest in his children’s education.

The mixed rice stall wasn’t just a business — rather, it was a lifeline for Tan and his family.

Yet, challenges never ceased to appear in the form of rising business costs, especially when it came to rental fees.

After seeing our business do well, the shop owner kept increasing the rent from RM800 to RM5,000, making it feel like a never-ending struggle.”

From working at 13yo in a factory to selling mixed rice, i’ve spent my life supporting my family & raising 3 kids | weirdkaya
Photo provided to WeirdKaya

Feeling helpless with the increasing rent, Tan decided to move to a new location. However, it came with a hefty RM12,000 rent for the entire kopitiam.

He stayed there for 8 years, but business never quite matched the success of the previous iteration as it was just enough to get by.

When the Covid-19 pandemic came, it proved to be the toughest blow as Tan had to dip into his savings just to ensure rent was paid on time.

Through the highs and lows of his journey, Tan reflects with wisdom he wishes he could share with his younger self.

“I didn’t handle the crises well,” he admitted. “With better financial planning, things could have turned out differently. But sometimes, you just push through with sheer grit.”

Looking at where he is now, Tan shared, “I’m grateful that three of my children can pursue the courses they’re passionate about without carrying the heavy burden of financial stress from the family.”


Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya – If you wish to reproduce this story, please ensure that you obtain consent from the interviewee to maintain factual accuracy and avoid the potential spread of misleading information. 

If referencing or using any information from our story, we kindly ask that proper credit is given, along with a backlink to WeirdKaya, as acknowledgment of the efforts made by our editors in sourcing and conducting interviews.




Weirdkaya is on instagram!
For more stories like this, follow WeirdKaya on Facebook and Instagram!


We are hiring writers!
We are hiring writers!