With no inherited property from his family, he was forced to take any work he could get, including selling meat dumplings at an outdoor stage, working in a restaurant, and helping out in a dry-goods store.
家無恆產的他曾在戲棚下賣肉圓、受雇料理店送飯、雜貨店當店員等，為了生活可說什麼活兒都幹。