His grandfather traveled the countryside looking for horses, taking Li Chi-mao along with him; he taught Li what to look for in a good horse, and how to buy and sell the animals.
他更潛心於繪畫了，當同齡小朋友興高采烈地嬉戲笑鬧時，他總是一人靜靜地蹲在一角作畫，畫出自己得意的作品時，還會拿給親友看，冀望獲得贊賞。