In 1937, Japan invaded China with unspeakable cruelty. My mother was almost captured as a “comfort woman” basically a disposable s ex slave for Japanese soldiers. Had she not escaped that horrendous fate, I would not be here to write about it.
In 1949, the Communists took over China. Due to my father’s political position, my entire family was slated for extermination, even 5 year-old me would be shot to forestall any possible vengeance. My family escaped down the Pearl River under the cover of darkness by means of one of my maternal grandmother’s motorized junks. There too, if they were caught, there would be no prisoners. But they made it to their British Crown Colony of Hong Kong not far from the mouth of the Pearl River.