I think it is worth noting he would have been born in the decade after the Cultural Revolution - so he grew up most likely in abject poverty - and into a society recovering from hideous losses. That is one reason why the work would have been undertaken outside of China. (It's probably no exaggeration to say the exceptionally large numbers of Chinese foreign students from 70s onwards in western universities contributed to Chinas recovery.)

Anyway, impressive personally, impressive for the social and family support needed and impressive as part of a society recovering.

Plus research into develoent of agriculture outside of Mesopotamia - cool stuff!