In many cases, profit and reputation were integrated. If one had profit, he would have a reputation. If one had a reputation, he would have profit. It was similar to how people enriched their family and how people passed the imperial examination.
Sometimes, profit and reputation were contradictory which couldn't be gained at the same time. If one wanted a reputation, he had to lose some interest; if one wanted profit, he had to be shameless. It was similar to how one borrowed money from his relatives and friends and how fair ladies were forced to earn a living by prostitution or singing.
Everyone wanted profit and reputation at the same time. However, in many cases, people would get into trouble through clever means. In the eyes of the others, they were their undeserved gain for granted; especially when a donkey blackmailed people in a lion's hide, it's not easy for it to gain some profit, not to mention save its reputation.
