During the war Jimei's scholastic village had been assailed by Japanese bombs, and half of the buildings were destroyed. Tan placed the money he had gained from selling off his businesses into reconstruction. Every brick and tile and every detail went through his personal scrutiny.
原來集美學村在戰爭期間飽受日軍轟炸，以前建的校舍摧毀過半，陳嘉庚於是把事業結束後帶回來的錢投入重建工作；一磚一瓦，細部設計，都由他親自審視。