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A 20-year-old man told Shin Min Daily News about his bizarre experience at a Chinatown "healthcare shop" in February 2023.
Owner stopped him outside shop
The man, known as Lim, recalled walking by the shop at Block 333 Kreta Ayer Road when the shop owner stopped him and told him he could cure his leg.
"My right knee and ankle were aching. I previously went to two other TCMs, but they couldn't cure it," Lim said. "So I decided to give him a try."
First a massage, then mole removal
The shop owner removed the bandages after Lim sat down.
Lim was then given a massage.
The shop owner started to do a mole removal.
Lim did not mention where the mole was located, but said the shop owner was mumbling something about "five elements" and [the mole removal] was to "help him out".
Owner spoke mysteriously
"He was a nice person, but he had an adamant attitude and spoke in mysterious tones," Lim explained why he felt he couldn't stop the shop owner. "I didn't quite dare to say no."
After removing the mole, the shop owner made him buy a bottle of medicated oil and seven "bone-setting pills", which he said was a "home-made recipe".
"The shop owner told me that it supposedly cost S$100, but because 'fate brought us together', he gave me a S$30 discount," Lim said.
Lim paid a total of S$220 before he left.
Mother went down to confront owner
His mother, 46, found out about the incident and went to the shop with him on Saturday (Mar. 11) to confront the shop owner.
She said things didn't turn out as expected.
"The owner first asked me if my son had enough medication and somehow made us buy another 14 pills for S$280," Lim's mother said.
Owner said mother's forehead had "dark aura"
The shop owner then told them her son's leg ache was because an "unlucky aura plagued him", then went on to add that her forehead is also "clouded with darkness", and he could help her via a process known as "open light".
According to Chinese folklore’s superstition beliefs, if someone is unlucky, the person's forehead will emit a dark aura, which can be resolved by blessing the person in a ritual called "open light".
She said the "open light" service was also a mole removal service.
"I don't know why I couldn't stop nor reject him," Lim's mother said.
"He charged me another S$160."
Mother and son made police report for losing S$660
The mother and son say they have made a police report and filed an application in the Small Claims Tribunal to demand their S$660 back.
Shin Min contacted the shop owner, who said the mother and son willingly paid for his services and denied selling pills or engaging in religious services.
"I've been here for decades and have many returning customers, and nothing of these sorts had happened," the owner quipped.
The article did not mention if Lim's leg has recovered.
Top image via Shin Min Daily News