The interwar years of 1918-1941 saw Malaya thrive from selling its rubber commodities to a world that was on a fast track to industrialization. Because of political and economic affiliations, many in the Peranakan community were known to have enjoyed a life of merriment, opulence and lavish living. The Second World War however brought a change to this lifestyle.

On 8th December 1941, just before the bombing of Pearl Harbour, the Japanese invaded Malaya. They landed by plane in southern Thailand, and northern Malaya capturing two airfields, before making their way down south. Within 10 weeks, the troops had successfully managed to invade Peninsular Malaya.

Soon after the Japanese occupied Malacca they made a proclamation that all citizens should return to their homes. One bomb fell in front of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in Malacca. The very next day the remaining British left for Singapore, giving each government servant one month salary and leaving them to the mercy of the incoming forces. There was looting on a large scale in Malacca.

During the war and Japanese occupation, the Chan family turned their seaside home into a farm that they could live off. Here, life was a far cry from having one maid per child. Family members were tasked to plant kledek (sweet potato), and the children learnt how to catch prawns and fish from the local kampong fishermen. The war changed the community, and by the time the Japanese occupation had ended in 1945, many Peranakan Chinese families had left their lifestyle of 12-day weddings, being match-made, even manek (beading) and other practices.

The world was changing for the Peranakans and they needed to adapt to new practices and ways of living.

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1918-1941年，马来亚靠着出口大量的橡胶供给工业蓬勃的国家囤积了一定的财富。由于国际贸易和政治上的种种因素，许多的混血后裔社会也象征了奢华福裕的生活；但是第二次世界大战改变了這一切。

1941年8月12日，美国珍珠港被日军袭击前，日军先攻占来马来亚。日本陆军在南泰国和两个被虏获的马来亚飞机场降落，并南下进军。在10个星期内，马来亚在无反抗的情况下被征服。

日本殖民区政权过后表示所有非本土人民必须迁返，并象征性地在香港和上海银行门前放置炸药。隔天，英国殖民区政权搬迁至新加坡前给予当地政府人员一个月薪酬。马来亚从此接受日军制迫害和洗劫。

在这期间，曾家改造了他们的海湾别墅；成了他们养家糊口的农场。所有的家庭成员必须承担种植甜薯的责任，而小孩子则到渔村学习如何捕捉鱼虾。

战争改变了所有混血后裔的社会。当日本殖民统治在1945年结束时，奢侈的生活早己成了回忆，例如：12天之久的婚姻，婚媒的繁多礼仪，穿珠的活动等。在战后，他们只好准备迎接新世纪的生活。

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