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This is a Chinese name; the family name is Shi.

Shí Xiù (石秀) is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 33rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother" (拼命三郎).

Background

Shi Xiu's ancestors are from Jinling (present-day Nanjing). He travels with his uncle to trade. When his uncle dies, Shi makes a huge loss from the business. He has no money to travel home and wanders into Jizhou where he earns a living by selling firewood. As a child, Shi Xiu has been well-trained in martial arts. He is a brave and daring youth who 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 Marsh outlaws and the Zhu Family Village, Shi Xiu acts as a spy for Liangshan and evades capture from the enemy successfully. 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 lead them out of the danger zone safely. He rescues that old man after the battle. Shi Xiu is more capable than merely a "brash and reckless daredevil".

Meeting Yang Xiong

One day in Jizhou, Shi Xiu chances upon a gang of hooligans who are cornering Yang Xiong. He dislikes people who bully others in groups and he helps Yang fend off the hooligans and drive them away. Yang thanks Shi for his help. They feel a special affinity for each other and thus become sworn brothers. Yang brings Shi home and lets Shi work in his butchery stall.

Shi Xiu discovers Yang Xiong's wife Pan Qiaoyun's adulterous affair with a monk called Pei Ruhai. He informs Yang about it and Yang questions his wife. Pan Qiaoyun accuses Shi Xiu of molesting her instead and Yang believes his wife. He drives Shi Xiu away in anger. Shi Xiu is unhappy and he is determined to reveal the truth to Yang Xiong. He ambushes Pei Ruhai and kills him. He shows Yang the monk's corpse. Yang Xiong brings his wife to Mount Cuiping (翠屏山) and interrogates her. Pan Qiaoyun confesses her affair after seeing that her lover is dead. Yang Xiong kills his adulterous wife and decides to travel with Shi Xiu to Liangshan Marsh to join the outlaw band there.

Becoming an outlaw

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu meet Shi Qian and the trio make their way to Liangshan. They pass by the Zhu Family Village along the way. Shi Qian steals the innkeeper's hen and is captured. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu fight their way out and seek help from Li Ying. Li writes an apology letter to the Zhus on behalf of the trio and requests that the Zhus release Shi Qian. The Zhus refuse and insult Li Ying. Li is furious and he confronts the Zhus. He is wounded in battle and rescued in time by Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu.

Yang and Shi travel to Liangshan Marsh to seek further help. The outlaws attack the Zhu Family Village under the leadership of Song Jiang and succeed in defeating the enemy after three battles. Shi Xiu contributes greatly to the victory for his espionage mission. He leads the outlaws safely out of the danger zone and tricks the Zhus into believing that Sun Li is on their side.

In another act of bravery, Shi Xiu attempts to save Lu Junyi from execution in Daming (大名府), Beijing. He runs into Yan Qing and learns from the latter that Lu Junyi has been arrested and sentenced to execution. Shi Xiu storms the execution ground alone but he is outnumbered by the government soldiers and is captured as well. He is only released from prison after the Liangshan outlaws defeat imperial forces and capture Daming.

Shi Xiu becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and southern rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the Imperial Court. During the Fang La campaign, Shi Xiu is killed in an ambush at Yuling Pass (昱岭關) by Pang Wanchun's archers.

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