The exaggerated tales of their exploits resulted in novels being written filled with many such characters. Among these were The Curly-Bearded Stranger, The Story of Hou Xiaoyu, and The Red Thread After the Song dynasty, markets packed with stalls offering different wares began to be found throughout the land, and various folk performance arts such as story telling accompanied by music, as well as various vaudeville-like acts, grew up around them.
宋以後市肆繁榮，各種市民娛樂如雜耍、說唱等民間藝術應運而生，用口語化文字寫作的「話本」，更有不少靈怪、公案、神仙、俠義故事。