The Flea on the Drum

This film (drama)Also known as鼓上蚤时迁，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2006Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin/Mandarin，Current Douban rating6.8(For reference only)。

"The Flea on the Drum" is a costume romance martial arts TV series adapted from the classic Chinese novel "Water Margin." The character Shi Qian, nicknamed the Flea on the Drum, implies a lightness like a flea jumping around on a large drum. In folklore, he has always been known as the number one thief in the world. Although Shi Qian ranks second to last among the 108 heroes of Liangshan, his story and reputation far exceed his ranking, making him an extremely lovable and popular character, and a rare gem for alternative film and television material. The story begins as follows: When the Xiliang envoy presents the national treasure, the purple-gold luminous pot, to the emperor of the Song Dynasty, he is ambushed in Jizhou by Zhu Jiazhuang's instructor Luan Tingyu and Zhu Long and Lian'er. The renowned catchmaster Yang Xiong steps in to rescue the national treasure. Luan Tingyu and the others, not daring to reveal their true intentions, must temporarily stay at the Zhu Inn, waiting for the right opportunity. This shocking secret is secretly observed by the innkeeper Shi Qian. Shi Qian sets his sights on both the treasure pot and Lian'er, who comes to steal it. The national treasure falls into the hands of the magistrate Zhou Zhi, who seeks to leverage Yang Xiong's master thief abilities, inviting guests to a grand banquet on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, using the treasure pot as bait to catch the thieves all at once and gain favor from the emperor. Luan Tingyu knows well that Yang Xiong is their biggest obstacle in stealing the treasure, so he sends Zhu Long to harass Yang Xiong's lover, Pan Qiaoyun, setting up a series of schemes to distract Yang Xiong and facilitate Lian'er’s theft of the purple-gold luminous pot. However, "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," as the more skilled Shi Qian steals the treasure pot right under everyone’s noses, leading to an unfolding tale of love, combat, and struggles over the treasure pot. Yang Xiong captures the Zhu Inn owner, Zhu Lv. To rescue him, Shi Qian sneaks into the Wang mansion at night, leaving a note to seek justice. The name "Flea on the Drum of Liangshan" causes a stir throughout Jizhou, and the Wang prince orders Magistrate Zhou to capture the thief and retrieve the national treasure. Magistrate Zhou again relies on Yang Xiong, who, having married the beautiful Pan Qiaoyun, becomes extraordinarily diligent. Yang Xiong carefully devises a cunning plan to invite the thief into a trap, using Zhu Lv as bait to lure Shi Qian to Tianwai Tower to return the treasure pot. At Tianwai Tower, fierce battles break out among several factions. Shi Qian brings the pot to impress Lian'er; Yang Xiong, failing to get his way, unexpectedly meets the reckless hero Shi Xiu, and they become sworn brothers; Luan Tingyu earns the prince's favor for protecting him at Tianwai Tower and is promoted to overall commander in Jizhou, while Zhu Long becomes the county magistrate. After enduring humiliations from Zhu Long, Yang Xiong is thrown into prison. Shi Qian and Lian'er go to Liangshan to recruit troops to rescue Yang Xiong but are unsuccessful. Shi Xiu, wanting to save Yang Xiong, tries various methods, and in the end, Shi Qian offers the treasure pot as a trade to rescue Yang Xiong, Zhu Lv, and Liangshan hero Yang Chun. After the heroes are released from prison, they immediately kill Zhu Long, and Luan Tingyu is forced to leave Jizhou. Lian'er is deeply in love with Shi Qian, but she has a prior engagement with Zhu Hu, so she can only return to Zhu Jiazhuang with Luan Tingyu. Shi Qian and his newly acquainted hero Wang Ying also decide to leave Jizhou and venture into Zhu Jiazhuang. Zhu Chaofeng harbors deep hatred for Yang Xiong, who killed his son, secretly sending people to Jizhou to undermine Yang Xiong’s reputation. Magistrate Zhou’s maid, Xiao Cui, also colludes with Zhu Jiazhuang, tricking Yang Xiong into a brothel and spreading rumors that lead to Pan Qiaoyun’s great dissatisfaction with Yang Xiong. At this time, Pan Qiaoyun is tempted by monk Pei Ruhai, and she becomes embroiled in an affair. Upon discovering this, Shi Xiu informs Yang Xiong, but Yang Xiong does not believe him and easily trusts Pan Qiaoyun's slanders, driving Shi Xiu out of his home. In anger and frustration, Shi Xiu obtains evidence and, together with Yang Xiong, kills Pei Ruhai, leading Pan Qiaoyun to shamefully take her own life. The two then join Liangshan. As Liangshan and Zhu Jiazhuang become bitter enemies, Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu are dispatched by Liangshan to spy on Zhu Jiazhuang, where they encounter Shi Qian and Wang Ying, who have been negotiating for a long time. At this time, Wang Ying takes a fancy to the skilled fighter Hu Sanniang. Shi Qian is also entangled with Lian'er. The four heroes devise schemes, and with the help of Lian'er and Hu Sanniang, they finally obtain the strategic defense secrets of Zhu Jiazhuang. After a fierce battle with Zhu Jiazhuang, they destroy the critical signal tower that secures Zhu Jiazhuang, earning great merit for Liangshan heroes in the destruction of Zhu Jiazhuang. Later, Hu Sanniang agrees to marry the short-statured Wang Ying; the clever and beautiful Lian'er loves Shi Qian even more and vows to be the Flea on the Drum's wife, giving birth to lively and adorable thief sons and daughters for Shi Qian.