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.

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.

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.

Du takes them to his master Li Ying, who writes two successive letters requesting the Zhus release Shi Qian.

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.

Xu is needed by Liangshan for his skill in using the hooked lance – a weapon that can defeat the chain-linked armoured cavalry of the imperial general Huyan Zhuo, who is laying siege to the stronghold.