Misfortune struck his family when his mother passed away. Chang acquired a stepmother, but lost his study privileges. Tired of being constantly beaten by his father, Chang ran away from his home and his arranged childhood betrothed. He apprenticed in an oil shop, where he became a child laborer and was abused regularly.
接下來家中發生變故，母親過世，繼母進門，讀書的權利被剝奪，父親的撢子不斷向他揮來，張拓蕪逃家了，逃開了他的童養媳「蓮子」，到油坊做學徒，成了照三餐受虐的童工。