102-year-old China-born shopkeeper turns unwitting TikTok sensation in Singapore

Sie Choo Yong, whose age was confirmed by family members, was filmed working in Lean Seng Lee Trading at the Beauty World Centre in Upper Bukit Timah.

But it turns out making money isn’t top of her mind, because she kept giving away extra items and even refusing payment in the video TikTok user “dinahnahnah” posted on Wednesday.

“Dinahnahnah” said Sie gave her multiple lollipops even though she paid S$2 (US$1.48) for just two. Sie also seemingly charged a lower price for several items bought later by the TikTok user’s husband.

The couple could not understand what Sie was saying and when they recalculated the amount they owed and gave her S$20, telling her to keep the change, the shopkeeper refused and kept shoving more snacks into their bag.

A passer-by who helped bridge the communication gap then told the couple Sie’s age and encouraged them to patronise her shop more often.

As of Monday, the video had been viewed more than 182,000 times and had over 17,300 likes.

The provision shop belongs to Sie’s youngest son, who said his mother helps manage the store because she finds staying at home “boring”.

Due to her age, her voice isn’t very clear, but she gestures energetically with her hands when asked her age. She has seven children and 27 grandchildren.

The provision shop was initially located at the old Beauty World — a market and shopping venue in the 1960s — and moved to its current location in 1984. It’s just one of the many businesses that her family runs, including Lean Seng Lee Goldsmith located one floor above the provision shop.

Sie’s youngest son, who did not want to be identified, said that he chose to keep the store open for his mother so that she could do simple tasks and would not be alone and bored at home. He says