"The snow came early that winter when I first saw her. She was wrapped in a bamboo basket and there were ice blocks on top of her blankets." There is a mountain in the village of Tongcheng city, and halfway up the mountain there's a nunnery. Shi Yinxuan came to the monastery when she was 12 years old and has been there for 28 years. The “she” in the story above is Shi Minjie, the abandoned girl in the bamboo basket from 17 years ago that Shi Yinxuan discovered. Shi Minjie is now attending Anhui's Agricultural University.
Baby Girl in a Bamboo Basket
In 1992, the Lunar calendar date of October 22: On this day, heavy snow fell from the skies. Shi Yinxuan went to Tongcheng area Ruyi'an monastery. After finishing her tasks, she was ready to trek back to Bai Yun Temple. There was a vegetable market near Ruyi'an monastery, when Yinxuan passed by, she found a crowd of people, all craning their necks to look, as if there were some sort of treasure in the center. Yinxuan could not help being curious and also went to look.
"Where is the treasure? Clearly this is an ordinary bamboo basket," Shi Yinxuan thought. The basket appeared veryordinary, stuffed with an old quilt. Yinxuan wanted to continue on her journey but at that moment someone opened a little corner of the quilt, and Yinxuan's breath caught in her throat. Hidden under the quilt was an infant who was too frozen to even make a sound!
Yinxuan went up to the basket and carefully peeled back the blankets and saw a child, wrapped in a blanket, whose tears have frozen and whose ears had changed colors from the cold. Her throat was so hoarse from crying that she could barely make a sound, but her eyes were exceptionally bright and alert, eyeing the surrounding people.
At this moment, Shi Yinxuan's heart was moved.
A Bold Decision
Shi Yinxuan picked up the bamboobasket, dispersed the crowd and went straight towards the hospital. "This child has been freezing for so long, I don't know if she'll be able to function normally." The doctor listened to Yinxuan's description and immediately conducted a check on the baby. Due to being in the cold for so long and not being fed for so long, the baby was on the door steps of death. After the doctor gave the child an IV, Shi Yinxuan stayed by the baby's bedside. Miraculously, few days later, the baby's condition improved!
The baby continued to rest in the hospital and took 40 days to recover. Meanwhile, in addition to caring for the baby all these days, Shi Yinxuan made a bold decision: to adopt the child and take her back to Bai Yun temple. After the civil and religious departments’ careful consultation, Yinxuan's wish was fulfilled.
On the day that the baby was discharged from the hospital, Shi Yinxuan gently put the child into a basket. At that moment, the baby smiled and joyfully waved her hands. Yinxuan touched the child's face and went back up the mountains to Bai Yun temple.
Adopting a child into the monastery? This was very shocking, even unthinkable. When the baby's crying sound at night reached the village through the jungle, what must people have whispered in secret? However, Shi Yinxuan did not care. Looking at the sleeping baby, she gave the child a name: "I hope she will not get upset about anything in the future, could thoroughly understand anything. The word for clarity, ming, would do for her name." Since then, the baby has her own name -- Shi Minjie.
At that time Shi Yinxuan was only 22 years old. She did not know the complexities of raising a starving child, and had no experience. In desperation, Yinxuan had to turn to her mother for help and brought the baby to her mother in the village until the baby was four years old.
A Muddy Path
At four years old, Minjie was a very energetic, charming and lovely child. One day, Shi Yinxuan's mother took Minjie up to the mountains and told her daughter: "You have adopted the child and she must be returned to the monastery." From then on, little Minjie began to call Shi Yinxuan, "Master," and Yinxuan's pupil, Shi Zhongxue, "Teacher", and the three of them lived together for the next 14 years in Bai Yun temple.
Perhaps due to the cold conditions when she was abandoned, Minjie at an early age had cramps, sometimes so severe that her hands and feet were deformed. This happened mostly at night and as a result, local people often saw Yinxuan hurrying down the mountain with just one flashlight to run to the hospitals. When Minjie grew older, Yinxuan took her to Beijing for therapy and Minjie gradually recovered.
Although unable to find her birth parents, Minjie had a carefree life similar to children her same age. When Minjie was 100 days old, Yinxuan took her to the city's photo studio to get a 100-day-old portrait taken. On Lunar calendar date of October 22 every year, Yinxuan would give Minjie a gift. When Minjie went to kindergarten, everyday at dismissals when other children's parents came to pick them up, Minjie would run to Yinxuan's waiting arms.
The mountain was not connected with the village and the mountain road was washed out when heavy rain fell. At these times, Minjie and Yinxuan would be stuck at the temple for a period until the water subsided. When thunderstorms rang over the mountains, the power would go out in the temple, and Minjie and Yinxuan would each hold a book and read under the stars. Sometimes, Minjie would read aloud and study English while Yinxuan would chant her mantras.
A Stubborn Heart
Although Bai Yun temple has a long history, because of its remote location there are not many pilgrims who support the temple financially. In addition to receiving 70 yuan from the civil affairs department for living expenses, half of Minjie's tuition came from pilgrims so this small trio could not afford any luxuries and even clothes would have to be worn over and over again.
The pilgrims who saw Minjie for the first time would curiously ask: “Why is there a child in the monastery?" Sometimes Minjie would rush to answer: "She was picked up by the side of the road!" After learning about her circumstances, Minjie'sschool teachers would take care of her and sometimes called her to their house to eat. One day, after just coming out of the teacher's home from dinner, Minjie ran into a classmate who asked her, "How could you go to the teacher's house to eat? Children from the monastery have no right to eat at other people's homes." Minjie was confounded for a moment and then bowed her head in silence and walked away…
The owner of a company, who was also a pilgrim to the temple, learned about Minjie's story and brought a special camcorder. He said that Minjie's situation should be published onto the Internet to allow everyone to help her. Shi Yinxuan said that when the company owner was chatting with Yinxuan about this endeavor, Minjie rushed in, shouting, "I can quit school, if we don't have money than it is not a big deal for me to go and work."
Having such a high pride, Minjie would not take people's pity. The name behind this special girl hides a stubborn heart.
Bright New World
While she never received extra schooling or ever asked for private tutors, Minjie's academic records were extremely excellent. Three years ago, Minjie was admitted to the best local high school. Wishing to take care of her, Yinxuan volunteered to go with Minjie to the city to live in an old abandoned temple.
At one corner of the abandoned temple is Minjie's personal "study." Although the college entrance examination has ended, a variety of reference books are still on the old table, a pile full to the brim. In the drawer are neatly arranged IDs, diplomas and even junior high school cards. All this Shi Yinxuan cleans lovingly and methodically.
"Minjie should have been able to have scored even better, but my apprentice was sick and had to have a surgery. I had to rush to the hospital, and Minjie was worried about my apprentice,” Shi Yinxuan said. In last year's college entrance examination, Minjie had an excellent score of 557 points and was admitted to Anhui Agricultural University.
"I want to go to college, graduate and get a job that will provide my “Master” and her apprentice with a good life," said 18-year-old Shi Minjie. University for her will be a bright new world.
18年前的弃婴考进大学
“那年冬天，雪下得特别早。见到她时，她正缩在一个竹篮里，棉被上都是冰碴。”桐城市有座独山，半山腰上有座白云庵，释缘新12岁时来到这里，一呆就是28年。她说的那个“她”是释敏节，是17年前被捡上山的孩子，今年考上了安徽农业大学。
竹篮里的女娃
1992年，农历10月22日。这一天，天空飘起了大雪。释缘新来到桐城市区的如意庵，办好事后准备冒雪赶回白云庵。如意庵附近有个菜市场，释缘新路过这里时，发现有一大群人围作一团，像是在观看一件宝物一般，个个都伸长了脖子。禁不住好奇心驱使，释缘新也上前一看究竟。
“哪里是一个宝物？明明是一个普通的竹篮。”释缘新说。那不过是一只非常平凡甚至有些破旧的小竹篮，里面塞着一床旧棉被。因着急赶路，释缘新准备离开。这时，不知道是谁稍稍揭开了棉被的一角，释缘新顿时倒吸了一口凉气——棉被下竟然藏着一个已冻得出不了声的娃娃！
释缘新凑上前，小心翼翼掀开包裹，看到一个长相可爱的孩子，身上裹着块毛巾，脸上的泪已结成冰，耳朵被冻得变了色，哭哑了的嗓子只能偶尔发出抽搐声，两只黑溜溜的眼珠儿在雪地里分外明亮，警觉地打量着周边的人。
这一刻，释缘新动了恻隐之心。
一个大胆的决定
释缘新提起竹篮，拨开围观的人群，径直奔向医院。“这孩子冻了这些天，不知道还正不正常？”医生听她说明了缘由，马上对女婴进行了检查。因受冻时间过长，加上长期没有喂食，这个女婴已经奄奄一息。医生给孩子吊上水后，释缘新就一直陪在床边。过了几天，孩子好转了！
孩子继续在医院休养，一直住了40天才算完全好。其间，除了照顾孩子，释缘新还悄悄做了一个大胆的决定：把孩子带回庵里收养。经过到民政、宗教部门仔细咨询，释缘新如愿以偿。
孩子出院那天，释缘新又轻轻地把孩子放进了竹篮。此刻，娃娃会笑了，还天真地跟释缘新逗乐，两只手不停地挥舞。释缘新摸摸孩子的脸，微笑着用毛巾把竹篮盖好，走向独山上的白云庵。
尼姑庵里突然多了个孩子？这在当时，是令人极其震惊、甚至是不可想象的。当夜间女婴的啼哭声透过丛林传到山下的村里时，想必不少人都在暗暗嘀咕。不过，释缘新并没有在意。望着睡熟的孩子，她想给孩子取个名字：“希望她以后对任何事情都能看得开，看得透，一个明字就可以了。”从此，女婴有了自己的名字——释敏节。
当初，释缘新不过22岁。对于如何养育一个嗷嗷待哺的孩子，她可是毫无经验。无奈之下，释缘新只好求助于母亲，由母亲带到村里，一直养到了4岁。
一条泥泞小路
4岁的小敏节活蹦乱跳，长得越来越好看，非常讨人喜欢。一天，释缘新的母亲带着小敏节来到了独山，对女儿说：“庵里的孩子必定要还给庵里的，让敏节以后就在庵里吧。”从此，小敏节便喊释缘新为“师公”，喊释缘新的徒弟释宗学叫“师父”，三个人在庵里开始了14年相依为命的生活。
也许是出生时受了风寒，释敏节从小就时不时地抽筋，严重时手脚都会变形，发病时十有八九都是在夜里。于是，当地人经常能看到释缘新师徒在夜里一人抱着孩子，一人打着手电筒，急匆匆地往山下卫生院跑的身影。等释敏节长大一点，释缘新还把她带到北京治疗，敏节的病情逐渐好转。
虽然找不到亲生父母，释敏节过的却是跟同龄人一样无忧无虑的生活。小敏节100天时，释缘新还特地把她带到城里的照相馆，为她拍了百天照。每年农历10月22日这天，释缘新都会送她一样礼物。后来，小敏节上起了幼儿园。每天放学，其他的孩子由爸妈来接，小敏节则欢天喜地地冲进师公的怀抱。
独山跟村落并不相连，上山的路一逢大雨就被冲坏，敏节和师公只能呆在庵里，靠半山的井水和香客的贡品过一阵子。山上多雷雨，一闪电打雷，庵里就会断电。这时，她们就会各自捧一本书，坐在屋檐下朗读。有时候，敏节念的是英语，释缘新诵的是早晚经。
一颗倔强的心
白云庵虽说历史悠久，可是因为地方偏僻，香客并不多。释敏节除了每个月从民政部门领取的70元生活费外，生活相当拮据，学费大半是香客资助的，从小到大也没买过衣裳，穿的都是些旧衣物。
新来的香客初见敏节，都会好奇地问释缘新：“怎么会搞个孩子来？”释敏节有时候自己就会抢着说：“捡来的呗！”
知道释敏节的情况后，学校的老师对她非常照顾，有时候会喊她到自己家里吃饭。有一天，刚从老师家吃完饭出来的敏节遇到了同学，同学的一句无意的问话却刺激了敏节。“你怎么没回去反而到老师家吃饭？庵里的孩子怎么能去别人家吃饭呢？”敏节先愣了一下，然后低头默不作声地走开了……
一个公司的老板在来庵里进香时也认识了敏节，第二次还特地带来一台DV机。“他说要把敏节的情况拍了放到网上去，让大家都来帮助她。”释缘新说，当这个老板还在跟自己聊天时，敏节警觉地冲了进来，大喊“我不干，没钱大不了我去打工，不念书了”。
强烈的自尊心，让释敏节受不了别人的同情。她这个特别的名字背后，隐藏着一颗倔强的心。
明亮的新世界
从小到大没上过补习班，从没请人辅导功课，释敏节的学习成绩却出奇的好。3年前，释敏节考上当地最好的中学，释缘新为了照顾她，主动要求下山，和释敏节一起住在桐城市区一所已经关闭了的寺庙里。
寺庙的一间偏房，便是释敏节的“书房”。虽然高考已经结束，可是各种各样的参考书依然把一张破旧的桌子堆得满满当当。抽屉里，整齐地排放着释敏节的准考证、毕业证乃至上初中时进出学校的出入证。这一切，师公收拾得是那么有条不紊。
“本来敏节应该能考得更好，恰巧高考的时候我的徒弟生病了，因胆结石要开刀，她每天考完试还要到医院送饭，看着师父生病她也着急，没有发挥好。”释缘新说。去年高考，释敏节取得了557分的好成绩，被安徽农业大学录取。
“念好大学，毕业了找工作，可以让师公、师父过上好日子。”18岁的释敏节内心一片纯真。大学对于她来说，将是一个明亮新世界。
