Something that I was always thinking about for a game like Kenshi, was to have a library.
Like in the Shaolin temples you could have a collection of scrolls and books that are valuable.
You could create the library by just making book shelve storage units just like weapons racks that would only hold books or scrolls.
You could seek out rare text to keep and the greater your collection the more your prestige would increase.
The greater your collection you get a boost to your research.
A new wondering scribes or scholars characters could stop by to visit and pay to spend time studying in your library.
A new job station like study desk could be added. And someone using it would have a chance to find the location of a new stash, a quest, a job, hidden treasure, tech breakthrough, ect...
Of course the greater your library and fame the more likely you are to have someone try and rob you.