By Gu Rong 1002577920, Liu Yuchen 1002580000, Huang Huating 1002579677, Wang Jia Ao 1002579971, Ma Ruihao 1002580021

76-year-old Chow Hon Meng examines a freshly sharpened knife at his shop.

KUALA LUMPUR—— In today’s fast-paced world, dull blades are quickly discarded. But on the 1st floor of Bangunan Pak Peng in Petaling Street, 76-year-old Chow Hon Meng sits quietly. As the owner of Heng Lee Trading Co., he has meticulously sharpened tools for 40 years, standing as a guardian of a fading craft.

Uncle Chow rests his rough, calloused hands on his vintage workbench.

Hand-sharpening on a wet stone for hours is grueling. “Yeah, it hurts. But not now lah. It’s seasoned ready,” he says, displaying his calloused hands. Taking over his father’s tools out of necessity, he quickly learned the trade’s harsh reality: “You cannot get rich. You can make it, you can survive… That’s why not many are following.”

The humble storefront of Heng Lee Trading Co. has provided a simple living for decades.

Understanding the physical toll, he gladly supported his children to pursue more comfortable careers. Yet, Uncle Chow developed a genuine passion for his solitary work. “I find it very interesting because… every piece is different,” he explains, pointing to scissors mailed all the way from Kuantan.

“No, I don’t feel lonely. I got companion with my knives and my scissors. They are my companion!” — Chow Hon Meng

Uncle Chow carefully tests a freshly sharpened pair of scissors on fabric.

While neighboring shops have permanently closed their doors, Uncle Chow remains one of the last masters standing in this quiet building. “No, I don’t feel lonely. I got jobs to do everyday. I got companion with my knives and my scissors. They are my companion!”

A display of vintage scissors—the tools Uncle Chow proudly calls his “companions.”

When Uncle Chow eventually retires, his old grinding machine will finally stop spinning. But his 40-year legacy offers profound advice on persistence: “You love your job… then you will persist on working with it lah. I don’t say I am number one, I say I am number two only.”

Covered in metal dust, Uncle Chow’s old grinding machine stands as a testament to persistence.