In Tanjung Rhu, we are given insights into the values, religious beliefs, norms and family practices of the Chinese. Mr Li is a successful businessman in the shipping sector. His mother has recently passed away. He feels restless and uneasy as he looks out of his window down at the harbour. He uses a pair of binoculars to look at the ships and counts them. He has always made a habit of this. The ritual soothes him now.
The pair of binoculars reminds him of his mother. He had bought them for her because her sight was failing. He recalls the events that occurred before she died.
When he had given them to her, his mother had told him that she had everything she needed. However she had been excited to think that she could see her husband's old shipyard with the binoculars. Mr Li had reminded her that it had been torn down years ago.
He invites her to his office so that she can see Tanjung Rhu from there. The next morning, Mr Li's mother tells him that if something is to be done, it must be done right and carefully she follows the rituals at the altar. The grand daughter offers to take over so Mr. Li's mother can leave but the old woman refuses. The grand daughter does not take the rituals seriously. She is seriously humouring her grandmother. Mr. Li tells his daughter to be more respectful of hi mother.
At the office, Li's mother cannot see the ships with the binoculars but remembers the time when she walked with a little boy who counted the ships. Mr. Li tries to communicate with her but it is too late. She is very ill. He wonders about those times and is sad that he never took the time to listen to her. After his mother's death, Mr. Li tries to follow the same rituals at the altar as his mother did. But when he tries to get some joss sticks, he cannot find them. He tries to open the drawer where his late mother usually kept them but it is locked. He does not have the key. He regrets not spending more time with his mother when she was alive.
At the office, Li's mother cannot see the ships with the binoculars but remembers the time when she walked with a little boy who counted the ships. Mr. Li tries to communicate with her but it is too late. She is very ill. He wonders about those times and is sad that he never took the time to listen to her. After his mother's death, Mr. Li tries to follow the same rituals at the altar as his mother did. But when he tries to get some joss sticks, he cannot find them. He tries to open the drawer where his late mother usually kept them but it is locked. He does not have the key. He regrets not spending more time with his mother when she was alive.
