The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.108)

TZU CHI 108 07 at one end of the sofa, ostensibly scrutinizing the contents of the newspaper. It came to a point where Sok Chu wondered if Teik Lee would only stop to look up after reading every single word printed on the paper. Faced with such a shy son-in-law, Sok Chu was at a loss on how to introduce Teik Lee to Tzu Chi. “A thought then occurred to me: since Teik Lee enjoys reading the paper so much, he must love reading books too. So I started handing him a copy of The World of Tzu Chi (Tzu Chi’s monthly publication) each time he visits. I would also turn on Da Ai TV whenever he was in the living room, regardless of whether he was watching it or not,” said Sok Chu. Sok Chu was unable to tell if Teik Lee had ever read The World of Tzu Chi , or watched any Da Ai TV programmes, but she continued doing whatever she thought was best nevertheless. Unbeknown to Sok Chu, Teik Lee had been conducting his own observations of the Gan family from behind the newspaper. He found it difficult to comprehend why his wife was able to get along so well with her family. He envied their tight-knit relationship. “My wife’s family is very unusual to me. I had never experienced such intimate interactions with my family before,” admitted Teik Lee. He resorted to reading newspapers to pass time at his in-laws’ house, as he did not know how to bond with his wife’s family. Over-emphasis on academic results As far as Teik Lee could recall, he had never shared moments of laughter and happiness with his family. Born in a rubber plantation near the Perak River, Teik Lee was exposed to wild animals and nature at a young age. However, his childhood was not a happy one. He had to deal with his complicated family of 2 mothers, 11 biological siblings and 6 step-siblings. “Life was hard; there were too many children. We did not even have new clothes to wear during Chinese New Year. The adults often quarrelled, so there was no way my siblings and I could foster close bonds in that environment. At that time, I detested the family,” he shared. Teik Lee subsequently moved out with his mother and biological siblings. They made a living by planting vegetables and picking fruits in the wild. They had to borrow food from others to survive, and the children had to take on part- time jobs while in school. The young Teik Lee, who was tasked with helping his mother to tap rubber trees, deeply resented his father, so much so that he even contemplated suicide to relieve his siblings of suffering. Deprived of affection and happiness since young, Teik Lee grew up to be a reclusive adult. He moved to Kuala Lumpur to work, rising up the ranks of his career through sheer diligence and grit. Soon, he was able to secure a stable source of income. The belief that his success was earned entirely through his own hard work inflated his ego, turning him competitive and more unforgiving of others. Later, Teik Lee was introduced to Quee Goon, who was working in the insurance industry, by a mutual friend. They married in 2005, and was blessed with a son and a daughter. Now that he has a family of his own, Teik Lee was convinced that he had succeeded in life, and vowed to protect his family to the best of his ability. A Fulfilling Life Starts with a Harmonious Home