I gently held the aged photograph of a beautiful lady in my fingers. She wore a vibrant red qipao, and her meticulously styled curls gracefully framed her face, cascading down her neck before being elegantly secured in a bun with a hairpin. Her hand delicately rested on her chin, showcasing a stunning ruby ring. A subtle smile crept onto her lips, yet its warmth didn't quite reach her eyes.

“Is this my great grandmother?” I gasped. My grandma nodded proudly, her gaze fixed on the photograph with an equal measure of affection. “Is this all you have of her?” I asked. 

Grandma's smile wavered for a moment before she composed herself, offering a wistful grin. “See that ruby ring?” she asked. I nodded. “It was passed down through generations, but we lost it. . . on that day.”

I placed my hands on hers, gently caressing them. “Please, tell me.” I could see that specific day flash through her eyes.

Grandma pulled me close, her voice carrying the weight of her memories. “Sit tight, and I will tell you about that fateful night. . .”

I lay in bed, cocooned beneath three layers of blankets. I could feel the heat from the coal stove seeping into the bedroom shared with my two younger sisters. I had just finished dinner, a hot bowl of spicy wontons, and I could still feel the lingering heat on my lips. 

“晚饭吃得好吗?” Mei, my youngest sister, asked. Did you eat well tonight? I gave a slight nod, sitting up straight. Mei took a seat beside me, as we huddled near the window, casting glances outside, like a pair of cats. The persistent honking of cars filled the air as they hurriedly made their way home to reunite with their families after a day of hard work.

Despite the snug confines of our home, the rhythmic clatter of food vendors concluding their makeshift diners reverberated through the streets, accompanied by the metallic hum of owners wheeling their carts away. As night approached, I watched the myriad of street lights each light up in intervals—one of my favorite sights before retiring for the night. We both took it in, the entirety of it—Shanghai, China. 

“睡觉了,” I could hear Ma knocking on the doors of each of my four older siblings' rooms. It's time to sleep. Her footsteps approached, and Mei and I quickly returned to our respective beds, neatly pushed against the walls. 

“睡觉了,” Ma whispered sweetly, opening the door slightly to check on us. “Where did Ling go?” she asked, peering through the cracks.

“Here! I’m coming, Ma!” Ling exclaimed, rushing towards us with a bit of clumsiness. He moved so quickly that he had to grasp the walls for support, preventing a near-slide before finally reaching us. A lingering red tint of chili oil adorned his lips as he flashed his toothy grin.

“小东西，快去洗漱,” scolded Ma, tugging at Ling's ear, eliciting a burst of laughter from Mei and me. Go wash your mouth, you rascal. 

She gave each of us a kiss on our foreheads before strolling away, turning off the lights on the way out. I hastily made my way to my bed, donning an additional layer of clothing before snuggling under the sheets, curling up into a ball. The room enveloped me in darkness, a velvety shroud that rendered everything invisible. The only things audible were the nocturnal symphony of hum of automobiles and the gentle jingles of bicycle bells deeply engrossed in their musical of the night. I slowly surrendered to the embrace of dreamland.

What seemed to be only a few minutes later, a jarring noise, the forceful banging on our front door, jolted me awake from my deep slumber. Judging by the rich, deep hue of the sky beyond, it had to be later than midnight. Who would be visiting at such an absurd time? By now, the three of us were perched on the edges of our beds, backs rigidly straight, fingers tightly entwined with the bed linen as waves of anxiety shot through us. The forceful knocks, accompanied by emphatic kicks on our door, intensified, and the air was punctuated with haunting cries and shouts. 

“穿好衣服!” Ma said while she opened our door frantically. Ma cautiously glanced through the window beside our beds, her voice quivering upon seeing a sizable gathering of people adorned in military uniforms. “穿好衣服，趕緊去客廳!” Get dressed and go to the living room, quickly. Her disheveled hair was fashioned into a tousled bun, and her eyes shimmered an unmistakable reflection of fear. “It’s happening,” she whispered, almost to herself. Without wasting another moment, I changed into a pair of pants and a t-shirt. 

Before we could do anything else, a resounding bang pierced the air, swiftly followed by a loud thud. The sound of weighty footsteps echoed ominously as they ascended the staircase. Swiftly, Ma removed her large ruby diamond ring from her slender fingers—a precious heirloom cherished across generations—and carefully nestled it within Mei's boot. 

Bang!

The door swung violently ajar as a duo of military guards forcefully kicked it open, their flashlights aimed directly at our eyes, momentarily enveloping us in a blinding spotlight. Ma, who had her arms protectively around Ling and Mei, stood in the corner of the room, her body visibly trembling.

“到樓下去, 马上!” they yelled. Downstairs, now! The four of us didn’t hesitate to race towards the living room as instructed, with the two guards closely following behind. My four elder siblings were already there, looking just as scared and uncertain as the rest of us. At least four more guards awaited us, their intimidating gazes fixed upon us as they stood in unwavering anticipation.

“Are these three the youngest?” one of them inquired, jabbing his bony pointer finger in our direction. Ma nodded. “每个人单独一间房分开审!” the guard ordered. Separate them all, one in each room and interrogate! “除了你們三個,” he added. Except for you three. 

My heart sank as I witnessed the scene unfold: Ma and my four elder siblings, their faces etched with worry, were forced into their separate rooms. Ma locked eyes with me, casting a glance heavy with sadness before her gaze retreated to the ground. She was then practically thrust into the bookroom, and I managed to mouth a “It'll be okay” before the door shutting decisively in her face. Now, Mei, Ling, and I found ourselves alone in the tense company of the guards.

Without a moment's hesitation, one guard swiftly pulled Mei into a corner. “他們把錢和珠寶放在哪裡?” the guard demanded. Where do they keep their money and jewelry? Mei cautiously lifted her head, her eyes locking onto mine with an unmistakable plea for assistance. I gazed into the pools of innocence and fear reflected in her eyes, my heart aching with the painful realization that there was nothing within my power I could possibly do to help her. 

“眼睛看著我!” they barked at Mei. Eyes on me! They subjected her to another round of interrogating, this time with increased intensity. She raised her trembling fingers, succumbing to the pressure, and pointed towards one of the cabinets on the opposite side of the room. Two more guards pushed past Mei, advancing towards the area where she pointed towards. Opening all the drawers and cabinets, they systematically rifled through each and every one, greedily seizing handfuls of jewelry and cash. 

Suddenly, a resounding thud echoed from the book room, accompanied by a subsequent cry. In an instant, Mei rushed towards me, embracing me tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Ling, trembling with fear, observed helplessly as the guards mercilessly expanded their plunder, cramming our prized possessions into their pockets. 

“等他們找到一切，他們就會離開，對嗎?” Mei asked, tugging on the corner of my sleeve. As soon as they find everything, they'll leave, right? 

I nodded. 

Mei looked thoughtful. She collected herself, wiping away her tears and sniffing softly. Then, with determined steps, she approached one of the guards. 

“Mei!” I called out, attempting to pull her back to me. However, her small figure had already settled on the floor in front of them and removed her small white boot. She delved inside it, her fingers seeking the hidden object before withdrawing it in her clenched fist. Deep in contemplation, she held it tightly against her chest.

Extending her hand out to the nearest guard, she slowly opened her fingers to reveal the precious red ruby ring in her palm. 

I gasped. “Oh, Mei!” I whispered in despair. 

“現在你可以离开了嗎?” she asked ever so innocently. Now can you leave? 

The guard greedily seized the ring from her hand, and without uttering another word, exited the room while the others continued to look through things before they left as well.  

I rushed to Mei, pulling her into a tight embrace. Though we were safe, the realization was undeniable—our family heirloom was gone forever.