When Chu Xisheng arrived at Hu Kan and Hu Lai's room, he found the two packing their clothes and personal belongings into bundles.
Chu Xisheng was a little surprised, but paid it little mind.
The disciples of Zhengyang Martial Academy were not rootless duckweed like him and his sister. They occasionally returned home to stay.
Once they had taken their seats and exchanged greetings, Chu Xisheng cut straight to the point. "Senior brothers, I've been thinking in private: since you're so well informed, with ears in every direction, you must be on good terms with the local know-it-alls and information brokers throughout Xiushui Commandery? There's something I'd like to ask your help with."
Hu Kan looked puzzled. "We do have quite a few friends around Xiushui Commandery. What would you like us to help with, Junior Brother Chu?"
"What else? I'd like you two to help spread my name!"
Chu Xisheng smiled. "I'm willing to pay handsomely for you to contact those information brokers and news peddlers and have them build my reputation."
Hu Kan and Hu Lai could not help exchanging a look, winking and wagging their eyebrows at each other.
See? Hu Kan thought. A textbook fame seeker who loves the limelight. Before, he complained that the rumors we cooked up put him on too high a pedestal. Now he's tasted the marrow and wants more.
Hu Lai secretly admired his brother. My older brother really did read him right. This fellow really is a shameless little rascal.
But then Hu Kan stroked his drooping eyebrows and gave a bitter chuckle. "The timing really couldn't be worse. Had you come three days earlier, Junior Brother Chu, we could have helped. Now, I'm afraid we won't have the time to manage this for you."
Looking thoughtful, Chu Xisheng reached