Xiao Baiyou takes to heart that centuries-old adage 'spare the rod, spoil the child'.
The businessman, who deals in property and luxury goods, has become a media sensation with the publication of his book, My Beida Children, which attributes strict parenting to getting three of his four children into the prestigious Peking University, known colloquially in Chinese as Beida.
Like America's self-proclaimed Chinese 'tiger mum', Amy Chua, Xiao has been challenged and criticised for what some say are the overly stern child-rearing tactics he has employed while bringing up his son and three daughters, the youngest of whom has not yet entered college.
But Xiao, who some call China's 'wolf dad', says the results of his parenting speak for themselves.
What made a businessman decide to publish a book on parenting?
Two years ago, I had a party because my daughter and son were both admitted to Peking University. Many of my relatives and friends came and asked how, despite my being so hard on them, they turned out so polite, academically successful and very happy. They said I should write a book about my experience. But I didn't have the money to publish the book. I borrowed from friends and I came up with more than 100,000 yuan (HK$122,000) and published the book in June. By [this month], it had sold 120,000 copies.