Yeah there seems to be some misunderstanding about shen hu. Possibly from last thread when we believed he was just a talented commoner.
Hes not. Shen hu is actually our rank, a baron. Meaning he is a noble, if...really really low on the totem pole of nobility. Not only that his family owes fealty to the Meng. As they are lumberjacks. Prob where he met mud girl, in his family swamp.
This means we cant "recruit" him as hes neither a mook nor just some random commoner. ( not to mention while we have the patronage of the cai heiress, his family is prob better off currently then ours number wise and cultivator number wise , if again, really low on the totem pole still)
While it CAN be argued spending actions with him should help him get those special events and gain more narrative weight (thus keeping him relevant in the long term ) there really wont be any "recruiting" going on.
Unless cai decides to take him on as a personal retainer /battle butler. But then that might go against her "find powerful commoners and bind them towards you style , or even be a snub to the current meng scion here.
Do remember people are Jelly of us becuase they felt we were undeserving of the position as cais left hand gal. If she suddenly gave another important position by her side to a low noble instead of the many scions available it will be a political smack in the face.
Then again, the meng royally fucked up with border (and the bai too but still... that's prob being handled ) meaning if cai wants to she is in the unique position where she can do it and it wont be political suicide but more of a "get your shit together " type of thing and a threat in a way as she grooms another noble is his territory as a replacement should they keep fucking up.
This may cause issues for shens family though....