This lifestyle continued for six years following his return from Japan in 1985, but things took a turn for the better when Lai met up with a former classmate who had gone onto a successful business career. His old acquaintance started ordering Lai's lacquer ware every year, and the family income rose.
一九八五年從日本回國後的六年時間，賴作明一家就這樣過著有一餐沒一餐的困窘生活，直到與一位事業有成的同學重逢，每年購買他的作品後才獲得改善。