Shi Qian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Flea on a Drum", he ranks 107th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 71st among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background Shi Qian is a native of Gaotangzhou (高唐州; present-day Gaotang County, Shandong). He a masterful burglar who, with his slimness and small size, could nimbly scale walls and move on rooftops to get into premises. Nicknamed "Flea on a Drum" for his agility, Shi Qian lives in Jizhou (蓟州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin) and targets the homes there. He once ran into trouble with the authorities but got out of it helped by chief warden Yang Xiong. Joining Liangshan One day, while stealing valuables from graves on Mount Cuiping, Shi Qian comes upon, undetected, Yang Xiong killing his infidel wife Pan Qiaoyun. Upon hearing Yang discussing with Shi Xiu about joining the outlaw band of Liangshan Marsh, he shows himself and asks them to take him along. On the way, the three stop to eat in an inn of the Zhu Family Manor. A row breaks out between the trio and the innkeeper after Shi Qian stole the rooster of the inn and cooked it for meal as the place has no palatable food. After burning down the inn, they flee chased by dozens of men fetched by the innkeeper. But Shi Qian falls into a trap and is captured. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu stumble into the neighbouring Li Family Manor, where they run into Du Xing, who has once received help from Yang at Jizhou. Du takes them to his master Li Ying, who writes two successive letters requesting the Zhus to release Shi Qian. But the Zhus refuse. Li Ying is injured by an arrow when he goes to confront them. Reaching Liangshan, Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu ask for its help to rescue Shi Qian. Shi is freed when Liangshan overruns the Zhu Family Manor in its third offensive. Life at Liangshan Shi Qian makes major contributions when at Liangshan, the most notable being his role in duping Xu Ning, an imperial guard instructor, to join the band. The plan, devised by Xu's cousin Tang Long, requires Shi Qian to break into Xu's house in the imperial capital Dongjing to steal a precious heirloom of the instructor - an impenetrable lightweight armoured vest. Shi easily