Overworked and under-nourished, Li-ho contracted tuberculosis and had to quit his job as a teacher. Lee Hsin put in strenuous efforts to re-create the old house the Chungs lived in.
回台後，他曾在內埔中學當過短期的教員，後來因為咯血而病倒了，只好再回美濃老家休養，而由台妹出外打工掙錢養家。