SINGAPORE - Bookworms and foodies who frequented the old National Library at Stamford Road will remember fondly the familiar face behind Nam Seng's wonton noodles.

Madam Leong Yuet Meng, 88, has operated Nam Seng Noodles & Fried Rice for 58 years running, with more than 40 of those years clocked in at the old hawker centre in front of the library. Nam Seng is now located on the first floor of Far East Square.

At an age where most of her peers have long retired, Madam Leong continues to personally see to the daily running of the stall.

"I wake up every day at about 4am to go to the wet market near my home in Toa Payoh to buy my ingredients, such as fish, prawns and pork, and then prepare the wonton mee at my stall," she told Shin Min Daily News on Monday (March 27).

"The most important thing about food that is good to eat is that the ingredients must be fresh, and the cooking earnest."

Madam Leong has even outlasted the five disciples she taught over the past decades, all of whom have retired and are in their sixties or seventies.

She still keeps in contact with them, and they in turn occasionally pay her a visit to play some mahjong.

"The stall is my lifeblood," said Madam Leong. "I get the greatest satisfaction from customers returning to look for me and eat my food."