Background
Shi Xiu's ancestors are from Jiankang, Jinling (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). He travels with his uncle to trade. When his uncle dies, Shi Xiu makes a huge loss from the business. He has no money to travel home and wanders into Jizhou (present-day Ji County, Tianjin), where he earns a living by selling firewood. As a child, Shi Xiu has been well-trained in martial arts. He is brave, daring, and has a strong sense of righteousness and justice. He always helps those who are oppressed or in need and even risks his life to do that sometimes. He is thus nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother".
However, Shi Xiu's nickname does not personify him fully. Besides being humble, he is also witty and sharp. During the battle between the Liangshan outlaws and the Zhu Family Village, Shi Xiu acts as a spy for Liangshan and evades capture from the enemy. He disguises himself as a firewood seller and persuades an old man into telling him about the traps set by the enemy. He reports the traps to Liangshan forces and leads them out of the danger zone safely. He rescues that old man after the battle.
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