==Joining Liangshan==

Hou Jian is hired to work as a tailor in the house of Huang Wenbing, a petty government official in the garrison town of Wuwei near to Jiangzhou. Huang one day stumbles upon a seditious poem that [[Song Jiang]], who is living as an exiled prisoner in Jiangzhou, has written on a wall in a restaurant when drunk. Huang reports the poem to Cai Jiu, Jiangzhou's governor. Song Jiang is arrested and soon sentenced to death. The outlaws from Liangshan Marsh hurry to Jiangzhou and save him just when he is going to be beheaded.

As the group rest in the manor of the Mu brothers (Mu Hong and [[Mu Chun]]), Song Jiang swears vengeance against Huang Wenbing. Xue Yong recommends Hou Jian as their guide to get into Wuwei and the official's house. Hou leads the group to Huang's address, where he tricks the official's family to open the door. The outlaws then charge in and kill the entire family. Although Huang himself is not present, he is captured by [[Zhang Shun]] on the Xunyang River as he hurries home upon seeing Wuwei is burning. After cutting Huang into pieces, the group, including Hou Jian, heads to Liangshan.

<ref>[http://www.poisonpie.com/words/others/somewhat/outlaws/index.html Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary]，Poison Pie Publishing House</ref>

==Death==

Hou Jian is placed in charge of the making of flags and clothes for Liangshan after the [[108 Stars of Destiny]] came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory following amnesty from [[Emperor Huizong]] for Liangshan.