Lin Han-chang, a family friend, tells the story of how Tu once came up north to visit him while construction was getting underway. When Lin first saw Tu, he almost failed to recognize his friend, for the Taitung sun and the hard work had transformed Tu into "a new man." Tu was now dark and wiry, looking for all the world like one of the "country folk."
友人林漢章說，杜建坊在整地建屋期間曾北上來找他，但他卻見面不相識，因為杜建坊經過台東陽光的洗禮，加上勞動，已全然「脫胎換骨」，變得又黑又瘦，一派「庄腳人」模樣。