Monk Zhongcheng was easygoing. Though he ate vegetarian himself, he did not stop Chen Wu from eating meat.
In Monk Zhongcheng's words, this was a skillful expedient; one should not use the precepts of the sangha to bind all living beings.
Only, whenever Chen Wu had eaten meat, Monk Zhongcheng would silently recite the Rebirth Mantra in his heart, so those pigs and sheep might be reborn into a good life.
Chen Wu did not notice any of this. He simply ate to his heart's content.
They ate and drank their way along, spending no small amount of money. By the time the two crossed the Lüliang Mountains and reached Pingyao, Chen Wu did not have many silver dollars left on him and needed to find a bank to withdraw some small silver coins.
After asking around a little, Chen Wu discovered that this place was actually Qiao Weisheng's hometown, as well as the location of Zhong'an Bank's head office.
What a coincidence! The silver notes on him were all from Zhong'an Bank as well.
Chen Wu immediately headed straight for Zhong'an Bank's head office.
Chen Wu had assumed that Zhong'an Bank's head office would be built in dazzling splendor. Even if it did not have gold bricks paving the floor, it should at least have put on a grand display.
Yet it was remarkably understated. Apart from being rather spacious, its interior decorations were exceedingly plain.
"Today, one silver dollar exchanges for one hundred and thirty-seven copper coins."
The bank clerk's hands snapped over the abacus as he gestured for Chen Wu to look at the exchange rate beside the counter. The tang of aged vinegar in his accent came through loud and clear.
"I'm not here to exchange money. I'm here to withdraw some." Chen Wu took out