Tale of Uncle Chev, a (former) newly rich man in Cambodia

Uncle Chev at the Karaoke bar…

By Ros Dina
Excerpt from Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek

A story is circulating about the “newly rich people” gaining from real estate speculation:

Uncle Chev is invited to the Karaoke bar by one of his friends. The first time he went there, he asked to listen to the song “Oh! What a poor man!*”. The second time he went there three weeks later, he wanted to hear “Ah! How lucky!*”. He just sold his land at a good price. The third time he went there, one month later, just after he pocketed the money from the sale of his land, he wanted to sing: “Where did your virginity go?*”. The fourth time he went, three months later, he asked to put on “Life is so short*”, meanwhile he was infected by AIDS. On the fifth time, his friend came to the Karaoke bar by himself, and he asked to put on the traditional “Khlang Khek” music, the one that is played during funeral… this time, it is for the memory of his deceased friend!
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* These are oldie songs by Sin Sisamouth