As a child, he was not particularly interested in learning, though his father sent him to study at a high school in Taipei.
和過去多數農家子弟一樣，他從小就得幫忙農事，對讀書興趣不大。初中一年級便留級，好不容易升上初二，又遭留級。他實在不想再念書了，便離家出走，跑到太平山投靠叔父。最後還是被父親找回來，勉強完成初中學業。