"I had to make sure that every word I wrote was correct and based on history, that's why I've visited so many local elderly," he said. The elderly even took all-expense-paid tours to nearby towns and cities to gather information.

Xiong's efforts finally paid off in 2017, when he published 17 books of over 150,000 words.

"Some people say I wasted time, money and energy doing this, but I believe the Xiong family history is something that needs to be retold for generations to come."

Xiong's family has brought up many renowned educational figures, including Xiong Yuyang, who opened Xinyuan Middle School, one of the three most respected private schools in modern times, along with Nankai Middle School in North China's Tianjin and Mingde Primary School in Central China's Changsha, Hunan province. The school opened a new chapter in Jiangxi's modern education.