@leewatch Rough Translation: 94-year-old Ouyang Huan Yan, Yan Kou, from Shunde, worked for Singapore's first family as a nanny for four decades. Yan Kou, when she was 18, came to Singapore with her sister. She started work with famous over
seas Chinese Tan Kah Kee's family for nine years. After the war, Lee Kuan Yew's mother employed her to work for the Lees.
Full Story in Mandarin http://news.enorth.com.cn/system/201...09974879.shtml
After working for the Lees for 1 year, Lee Kuan Yew returned from his oversea studies in the UK.
Lee Kuan Yew wrote in his memoirs, his wife go to office every day, his young children were taken care of reliable Guangdong maids. Yan Kou is one of them. While with the Lees, Yan Kou started with doing the laundry, shopping and other chores, when Lee Kuan Yew married and have children, she also took care of his three children. Yan Kou worked for the Lees for 40 years until 1986 when she and her sister returned to Shunde.
Recently, reporter Weng Shuxian visited Yan Kou to listen to her memories of working as a nanny for Singapore's first family.
When asked, Yan Kou recalled that Lee Kuan Yew had a simple wedding at his home's garden before going for the honeymoon. There is no wedding dinner, only party with tea and cake for relatives and friends.
Yan Kou also remembered that after Lee Kuan Yew became the Prime Minster, she would often bring the children to the Istana after school in the afternoon. Lee Kuan Yew would entertain foreign dignitaries at the Istana, but continued to live at his Oxley home with his family. Yan Kou would often prepares simple breakfast at the home, Lee Kuan Yew usually drinks a glass of Ovaltine, 2 pieces of bread and 2 eggs. Mrs Lee worked in the day as a lawyer, but in the evening after work she continued to do house chore, takes care of the children and prepares dinner.
When Yan Kou first met Lee Kuan Yew, he just came back from his oversea studies in the UK, he was not very well versed in Mandarin then. But in person, Lee Kaun yew was not westernized, instead he was rather traditional. When Lee Hsien Loong was only a few years old, Lee Kuan Yew brought a set of long sleeves mandarin jacket for his son during Chinese New year.
Yan Kou revealed that Lee Kuan Yew is strict with the children. The children are also obedient, humble and not proud unlike children from other well to do families.
When Lee Kaun Yew would disciplined the children privately in his room. No one is allow to enter, even Mrs Lee are not allowed to intervene, or enter. The children would not dare to talk back. Although Yan Kou and the workers have never seen how Lee Kuan Yew disciplined the children, they would know from the children's expression when they came out.
Yan Kou remembered once Lee Hsien Loong was third in his class. Lee Kuan Yew was not satisfied with the result and called his son to his room. Then Lee Hsien Loong was frightened, Lee Kuan Yew told his son to get first next time. Since then Lee Hsien Loong would get first almost every time. Lee Kuan Yew is equally strict with his daughter who scored 10As.
Lee Luan Yew also forbid the nanny to accompany the children to school. When Lee Hsien Loong was in Primary 3, he asked to go to school in the school bus (instead of being driven). At first Yan Kou was concerned Lee hsien Loong would not able to keep up with the school bus, but Lee Hsien Loong told her that he would dash to catch the school bus once the school bell rang. Lee Kuan Yew respect Lee Hsien Loong's decision, to let the children learn to adapt.
In addition, when the children turns 21, they are expected to be independent. Very often the children would ask the workers to buy stuff for them, Mrs Lee would insist the children pay for it themselves and would not pay on their behalf.
While working for the Lees, Yan Kou would address Lee Kuan Yew as Mr Lee, even after he became the prime minister. his children are also very causal, and like their parents, have no airs. the workers would call the children by their names only.
Mr & Mrs Lee liked to drink coffee, eat beef, spicy dishes and curry, but that's not to the liking of Yan Kou who like fish and Chinese dishes. So Mrs Lee would let the workers prepare whatever food they like too.
Yan Kou said working for the Lees, is like staying at home. She only need to inform the Lees before she goes out. Sometime, she also invited her friends to her work place. Mrs Lee treat the workers well. In the past, the employer and employee contribute equal share to the employee's CPF. The Lees would pay for her share too.
When Yan Kou decided to leave the Lees, Mrs Lee requested for her to stay for some more years. unfortunately Yan Kou's sister was in poor health.
Her home town does not have telephone, but Lee Wei Ling would write to Yan Kou to keep in contact. Lee Wei Ling also sent a photo of the "whole family" to Yan Kou. When Lee Wei Ling's friend visited China, she would ask her friend to visit Yan Kou on her behalf.
