His wife, who has the conscientious, persevering and frugal qualities for which Hakka people are noted, helped him by vending vegetables. She said that besides taking care of the children she had to work with the men to earn some extra money for the family.
他也養植蘭花，精心培養出許多名蘭，這也賺了不少錢。然而十個孩子的花費，有時還是會令他捉襟見肘，他曾一度想賣掉賴以維生的土地，供孩子讀書。