Chapter 6 Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Blood is thicker than water,how true it was,considering the fact that my late father was an adopted child of the Cheahs but in that family we had companies we were never alone,so big deal!!!.Adopted or other wise we had been absolved into the family and treated extremely well by our dear grandmother.She had at no time pushed us outsider.

However many does not share her views but who cares for it was she that was what matters.I know many had used this trying to induce her to part her shares of remaining fortune to them.They failed miserably in convincing her for she knew everyone of them.However they never gave up.Although she treated us well she never yielded to our late father's persuasion for her to release some money to him for business.

But than who can blame her?The remaining fortune consisted of the house and land which she held on tightly with some cash although not much but sufficient for the family to survive for some years to come.She also knew my late father well,well enough to know that he was never business material and beside had no experienced as the rest of the Cheah,he being the youngest.

Should the pressure be too heavy a burden to carry she just leave for Kuala Lumpur where my Auntie was residing.Once out of town none of those ,those pestering her had no means of pursuing her,just simply no way. My Auntie would never allow that to happen,not even our father could get near to her.However, she always longed to be with her grandsons that will be my brother and I- therefore took the first opportunity to return home when every thing were calmed.

Our relatives varied tremendously.First there were the Cheahs- same ancestors line with my paternal grand father,there ain't many actually as far as I can see because when we were tiny tots my grandmother used to visit them,I remembered of tow of my Auntie's cousins all Cheahs plus a sister.During my grand ma visits to them she always tagged both of us (my brother and I) along.

The way they talked were so different from the main stream of Cantonese.As kids we could catch some of what being said though nothing much and matters simply simple.Our Auntie (my father's sister) was also exceptionally friendly with them,
and we knew she paid numerous visit to them while she was a nurse in Kuala Lumpur.In fact the facts were very glaring clear she and them shared the same blood line.

On the hand she was never on good term with her other brothers,my father and elder brother who was years older then her.Both of whom were similarly adopted in different era.Of course all shared the same father ,my grand father.Her relationship with the elder can be termed or measured by the arm length,that was how closed they were related.It was no different from our father.

This old uncle have few daughters very much older than our Auntie.Well.all tried to maintain a better relationship with her.Her mother being a second mother to the elder brother .Only they that brother and family) visited her at most of the time but seldom the other way around.I can safely presumed all relationship were not well with each other.

From these blood lines I have now given you now,it was obvious who were truly who in the family line up.It was never complicated and extremely clear whose blood were thicker than whose.My grand ma including my Auntie were obviously closer to those two cousins and their children.

To prove this were as simple as ABC,because we had seen her venturing all out to help their off springs especially the cousin sisters' in providing jobs in her husband's Glass factory in Kuala Lumpur and Sawmill in Pahang.

One thing was odd those two cousins survive very well after the war and owned their own business. The elder was a successful timber retailer merchant and building contractor in Sabak Bernam.While the younger brother was an Iron Foundary Workshop owner seemingly successful.

When the that young cousin's wife was very sick my auntie even purposely took trips back to Teluk Anson to visit her,to the extent of cleansing her.Thus showing her passion and affectionate concerned for them.There were little doubts that their blood were definitely thicker that ours.

Jobs could be easily available for the children of these guys but what were the used when not appreciated instead created havoc all the way.Much to annoyance of our Uncle who provided them the good jobs what more can we say about such ungrateful people?.

In the days when my grand father was still around there were many distant cousins by the same surnames including others not related bearing the same surname.These people enjoyed certain privileges as being a Cheah.Most of whom were opium smokers.The way they behave and worked they were nicknamed "Kings".! st.King,second king and so on.All their graves lied in an old,old cemetery in Sungei Nibong.Except for us paying our yearly respects on "Cheng Beng"and no others does that or worst knew their exitense.

Our father perhaps maybe adopted but he enjoyed the full status as though he was actually my grandmother's son.My grandmother loved him from the day he was adopted giving him good allowances during his schooling days.Well withopuy the slightest doubt my father was a spolit child beginning from the days he began schooling.

When his studies were bad still he was given the opportunity to study in Ipoh.Obviously he never did well,despite so much financial and moral support he studied up to form three (junior middle three in Chinese School).Apparently a number of years were wanted because he never much required promotions along the way.Those were the days whereby you be promoted only when you passed the class examination.A failure would meant retention in the same class without promotion.

My father enjoyed himself to the fullest with his huge following of friends in Ipoh that was the sole reason for his failure in studies.Without a doubt he was a spend thrift,spending lavishly on his friend.Any he discontinued his studies after junior middle three.
To continue when inspired- maybe corrected as well..