However, Hsiao's wife couldn't speak English and couldn't make the transition into American life. In the end, they decided that Hsiao's wife would remain in Taiwan, and Hsiao would bring his young children-three sons and a daughter-with him to America.
又因為太太不會講英文，沒有辦法適應美國生活，最後決定太太留在台灣，蕭泰然帶著年幼的三子一女在美國，兩人分頭賺錢還債，從此夫妻分居天涯。