Xiao Xian seemed to see a woman in her twenties bowing to her, "Master Shan Yin, e see, I’m not strong enough to hold her." Xiao Xian knew that the person Taohua most wanted to see at this moment should be Master Shan Yin.
Master Shan Yin had been a monk for over forty years but had never held a child. As Xiao Xian spoke, she pushed the baby into his arms, and the flustered monk hurriedly took over the child.
He didn’t dare to use too much strength, only dragging the baby girl with his palm. Just as he was about to check for any letters on the baby girl that might be related to her origin, the baby suddenly took the monk’s finger into her mouth and started to bite playfully.
"Master Shan Yin, she’s hungry, no, she’s smiling," Yezi, who was scared half to death a moment ago, now seemed energized.
Seeing the baby girl, a warmth spread in the usually lonesome heart of Master Shan Yin. He didn’t know who had abandoned this child under the peach tree, but he felt it must be fate, "Poor child, tomorrow I will take you up the mountain to inquire if any family is willing to take you in." But no sooner had Master Shan Yin finished speaking than the baby started crying and no matter how he tried, he couldn’t soothe her.
"Master, you should adopt her, look she’s crying her heart out," Xiao Xian took the chance to coax jokingly, saying that otherwise, her and Taohua’s efforts would be wasted.
Yezi was muttering on the side, "No, it’s not appropriate, monks and nuns do not touch the opposite sex, the Master is a monk, it’s inconvenient, and Mama said, with better times, there are places in the city specifically for orphans."
Almost simultaneously, Yezi felt two resentful gazes, one from Xiao Xian, and the other from... that little baby girl. Oh my gosh, flustered, Yezi hurriedly took back her words, dared not speak further.
Left with no choice, Master Shan Yin nodded in agreement, immediately the baby stopped crying. Master Shan Yin called Xiao Xian and Yezi into the temple, asked why they were still around the temple so late, scolded them, then warmed some rice porridge and fed the baby before arranging a place for them to stay.
The temple returned to its tranquil state, and the next day, parents from both families came knocking, inevitably scolding ensued. Xiao Xian, having helped Taohua and in good spirits, let Zhu Shijun rebuke them.
Yezi, seeing Xiao Xian in a good mood, didn’t even realize when Mama slapped his ears a few times. Soon, children from the village and hamlet came to school, all feeling regretful seeing the peach tree struck by lightning.
When Yezi’s mother heard about the baby girl in the temple, she was inclined to adopt her. They only had Yezi, who was quite mischievous, and having another daughter seemed good. The baby girl that appeared from the peach tree had a round forehead and was irresistibly adorable with her glistening eyes. Unfortunately, as soon as she came close to the baby, the baby started crying non-stop, much to the helplessness of the adults watching.
Finally, Zhu Shijun spoke up, "The baby is crying non-stop, she might be reluctant to part from Master Shan Yin, it’s said that a forcefully picked melon isn’t sweet. Maybe Yezi’s mother should just take her as a goddaughter and visit her often, usually leaving her at the temple with Yezi’s mother bringing food and clothes for the child." Zhu Shijun’s suggestion was unanimously agreed upon, with Yezi’s mother’s help, the baby’s food and clothing could be resolved, and it would be much more convenient if Master Shan Yin adopted her.
"Amitabha, since it’s so, let the baby girl stay here in the temple. Benefactors, you are highly esteemed, may I trouble you to name the baby girl." Master Shan Yin spent a night with the baby girl and grew very fond of her, it was hard letting go.
"Taohua," Xiao Xian eagerly said upon hearing her grandfather had the right to name, "She was abandoned under the big peach tree, still holding a cloth like peach blossoms. They say when a peach branch touches soil, it rejuvenates, Grandfather, let’s name her Taohua?"
"Ah, she smiled again." Yezi said. It’s really a partial girl, whenever Xiao Xian says something she smiles, when he talks, she either cries or rolls her eyes at him, and his Mama still wants to make her their goddaughter, if he gets such a sister, life will be tough.
"A phoenix settles under the peach blossoms; let’s name her Taohua," Master Shan Yin nodded. After thanking the parents from both families, he began teaching like usual, only today’s class was different, beside the lime water bucket there was now a cradle with the little baby girl inside.
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