157Please respect copyright.PENANAN2Ae3g3EIf
好不容易等到傍晚,廟公總算把萬猴給盼了回來,後頭還跟著他的拳腳師傅。157Please respect copyright.PENANAMAjgmU50do
157Please respect copyright.PENANAy0Rzy9oKu6
小治他們轉頭一看,赫然發現,所謂的拳腳師傅,竟然就是「蘇一郎」!157Please respect copyright.PENANABGsypuiWV9
157Please respect copyright.PENANAP126tpDfA7
廟公得知雙方是故人重逢,竟在心裡暗自慶幸:妥當了,看來萬猴這事定能化解!稍早還很焦慮不安的他,一下子突然變得輕鬆許多。157Please respect copyright.PENANAUrjJ3f3Epg
157Please respect copyright.PENANAHhMytRmSWe
原本小治一行人還都繃著神經,板著臉;自一郎出現後,彼此一陣寒暄、敘舊,很快就變得和顏悅色起來!157Please respect copyright.PENANAD9AeDk30cZ
157Please respect copyright.PENANANflSj92Mb9
現場臉色最鐵青的,就只剩萬猴一人了!他是真的萬萬沒想到,眼前這幫人,竟和師傅曾在憲兵隊裡一起蹲過!別說恨不能找個地洞鑽了,給他一把武士刀,往肚子一劃,他都樂意!157Please respect copyright.PENANAIi0I7q7Hip
157Please respect copyright.PENANAPF5lMT8RXU
一郎先過來檢視羅排的傷勢。得知他的左手又脫臼了,和上回一樣,熟練地「喬了」兩下,便幫他把左手接了回去!也算幫萬猴補償一點遺憾。157Please respect copyright.PENANA93C2qp3Whv
157Please respect copyright.PENANAD7Jm1xXmcj
隨後,一郎領著萬猴過來,令他跪在地上,向羅排磕三個響頭致歉!接著,再掏出一把生魚片刀,擺在桌上。157Please respect copyright.PENANA4s9CYZjDK3
157Please respect copyright.PENANAjQeReeM1aS
一郎對萬猴說:「江湖規矩......你攏目啦。」157Please respect copyright.PENANAT40K4XAsvQ
157Please respect copyright.PENANAF7FucOKxde
語畢,萬猴起身,伸出左手,把五指攤開往桌上一放,再用顫抖不已的右手,執起刀子,立於左手小指旁,一把鼻涕一把眼淚的準備「斷指謝罪」!157Please respect copyright.PENANA9RHveTTRgg
157Please respect copyright.PENANAzQeC4NTMmc
海川見狀,趕緊出面喝止道:「慢且,我嘸要你的指頭仔!」157Please respect copyright.PENANAvGwE2kbFju
157Please respect copyright.PENANAyCwAHAkiRf
海川也知道江湖規矩,小指一切,恩怨全歇,後面規費的事就全都甭談了!157Please respect copyright.PENANAHfhiVvpI1K
157Please respect copyright.PENANACRrY1lYAFv
斷指謝罪被突然喊停,一郎和廟公都懵了!他們也納悶,不切手指,那今天這事又該如何化解?157Please respect copyright.PENANAtjT6nq64A0
157Please respect copyright.PENANAG1kQgjDcwS
海川提議:「文明人要有文明手段。」 他以切手指太野蠻為由,救下了萬猴的左小指!157Please respect copyright.PENANAWsno36IvaB
157Please respect copyright.PENANAcFJVL46sf8
等海川提出免去規費的要求後,廟公這才明白,原來他圖的是這個!157Please respect copyright.PENANApqlqZii8bt
157Please respect copyright.PENANAGlmyAve6pv
其實萬猴收來的規費,他自己實拿不多,大比例還是讓廟公收去,畢竟廟口本來就是他的地界;說穿了,萬猴不過是他維持廟口秩序的一幫打手而已!157Please respect copyright.PENANAUL8RLZMCM6
157Please respect copyright.PENANAm5qX4xkBC5
結果這球又丟回到廟公手上,一郎反倒成了話事人,勸廟公乾脆順了海川的提議。157Please respect copyright.PENANAKUkf8XK69m
157Please respect copyright.PENANAe0CGhBtTwU
只是一郎話說得輕鬆,廟公卻是啞巴吃黃蓮,有苦難言!雖說少收一攤規費是也不痛不養,但整個菜市場的人都交了,唯獨大輪車這攤不交,怕傳出去會難以服眾!157Please respect copyright.PENANAUBJZcOJtPx
157Please respect copyright.PENANAf2VvA2hBFm
海川也明白,談判就像做買賣,先抬高價碼,回頭才有議價空間;一開始就直接提出免去規費,不過是技術性的抬價,好起個「錨定效應」而已。157Please respect copyright.PENANA0JSplGw3AU
157Please respect copyright.PENANAEEItKgmieW
雙方經過幾番討價還價後,最終達成協議;今後大輪車烤鴨舖只需繳納一半的規費!這也正是海川所要的「實質好處」。157Please respect copyright.PENANAcuK8HDwYXB
157Please respect copyright.PENANA7bqwunyvpZ
自這天起,廟口一帶就沒人敢再去招惹大輪車的人了!因為就連本地最橫的萬猴,都得敬畏他們三分,更何況其他不成氣候的小地痞、小流氓。157Please respect copyright.PENANA0i1Ef5d4q2
157Please respect copyright.PENANAXujbpT0c9Z
雖然說好只收一半規費,但每到收款日,萬猴經過烤鴨舖時,也就進去打個招呼,噓寒問暖一番,哪敢再向他們索討規費!157Please respect copyright.PENANAypSTa4stK8
157Please respect copyright.PENANAn9tWmhrUMh
中秋節前一天,一大早,一郎帶著萬猴,還有那天打過羅排的幾個小跟班們,捧著好幾箱文旦來到店舖,欲找大輪車的人。157Please respect copyright.PENANAyrtEWwqAl7
157Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZqZ385yfi
這時代的人是真的古意!由於一郎始終覺得那天在廟裡道歉,不夠誠意,於是托朋友從南部帶了幾箱文旦上來,想補足歉意。按他的意思,那天動手打人的不只萬猴,其他「毋正囝仔」也有份;於是今天特地把他們全都叫來,再好好至歉一番!157Please respect copyright.PENANA9apjT3Qnrr
157Please respect copyright.PENANAfg1SqXk9Rp
雙方人馬也算不打不相識,加上一郎如此知情世故,最後還是得饒人處且饒人,彼此很快就盡釋前嫌了。157Please respect copyright.PENANAt0LD2cgMOx
157Please respect copyright.PENANAXVxwyvxAzL
其實一郎與大輪車的人在號房一別後,就一直掛念著他們,老是在想這幫人出去後,到底過得如何?如今有幸再相遇,也算了結他一樁心願。雖說重逢的原因不是很令人愉快,但不管如何,結果還算是喜劇收場。157Please respect copyright.PENANAkdqh532eQC
157Please respect copyright.PENANAGYeoVOfQv2
下午,小治他們帶著一郎一行人,來到擺接溪的鴨場參觀。他們還告訴一郎,年初至今,所經歷過的大小事和創業歷程。157Please respect copyright.PENANAXQk0ZbQqWH
157Please respect copyright.PENANAVAr4UQOGuT
一郎來到溪畔,看到眼前這遍空曠的濕地,回頭再數了數現場的人數,突然心生一念,問道:「恁敢會曉摃野球(你們會不會打棒球)?」157Please respect copyright.PENANAFuuVW7CKNn
157Please respect copyright.PENANA3ySlt3Urs0
接著,一郎從口袋裡掏出一顆滿是歲月痕跡的棒球出來,說自己學生時代是棒球校隊,還是先發投手!早年受嘉義農林的激勵,也曾立志要去甲子園;但很可惜,這願望最終沒能實現!157Please respect copyright.PENANAa8fYF8VPAB
157Please respect copyright.PENANAL0XW316Ecj
稍後,浩克找來兩支平滑的圓木棍當球棒,其他人再搬來幾片石板當壘包,畫定好內外野範圍後,便在溪畔打起了棒球!157Please respect copyright.PENANAoRoYs3tQVe
157Please respect copyright.PENANAtrUUDduQgj
整個下午,即使沒有棒球手套,場地也很克難,但每個人還是玩得很盡興!尤其是一郎,因為他已經好久沒有投過球了!157Please respect copyright.PENANAs1tz2H6EnM
157Please respect copyright.PENANAyJL87nDAXw
羅排傷勢未瘉,無法下場打球。在家休養好多天的蔡蓉,今天身子總算好一點,在海川的陪伴下也來到溪畔。他們和羅排、花子,一起坐在堤防上,觀看球賽。157Please respect copyright.PENANAh1nYap9rFF
157Please respect copyright.PENANAIv256Otapn
此時羅排,心裡正在想:明天中秋節,是不是該做點什麼?157Please respect copyright.PENANAUHUgfO84Vn
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「對,烤肉,中秋烤肉!」羅排喊道。157Please respect copyright.PENANAv5NK1cWUGf
157Please respect copyright.PENANAgOyWbFW9lK
聽到羅排突然嚷嚷著要烤肉,一旁的花子、海川和蔡蓉,三個人是滿臉疑惑,不懂他為何突然提議烤肉?因為這時代的台灣人,尚未發展出中秋烤肉的文化。為此,羅排還特地向他們解釋一番,說未來的台灣人,有中秋烤肉的習俗。157Please respect copyright.PENANA3C6iwR5fR2
157Please respect copyright.PENANAc024sjHYfD
海川覺得,所謂的烤肉,應該就像軍隊野炊那樣,不是什麼特別稀罕的事情;但蔡蓉沒烤過肉,乍聽之下還覺得挺有趣!等球賽結束後,小治他們一聽到烤肉,立馬響應,隨即開始四處張羅烤肉用品!157Please respect copyright.PENANAOeqBOSuS9Z
157Please respect copyright.PENANAp9C0R549D7
反正烤肉對他們來說不是什麼難事,要肉有肉,鴨肉無算,雞肉、鵝肉都有現成的!要菜也有,農舍旁就是劉伯天天再顧的菜園;且乾材也不愁,舖裡烤爐每天都在燒,庫存一大堆!唯獨就是烤肉網沒有,也沒看過這個時代,哪裡有人在賣!157Please respect copyright.PENANAfNgGKQDo8E
157Please respect copyright.PENANAYxGLrJTWwS
就在大夥一籌莫展之際,羅排開始回憶,當初在部落,塔斯庫他們也常常在烤肉,就沒特別去留意到他們是拿什麼當烤肉網!157Please respect copyright.PENANAkCqMPrNtvL
157Please respect copyright.PENANAFvZU7ZHl0P
後來多虧花子提醒,部落的人是把石板架在火堆上,用石板烤!於是他們再去把當成壘包的石板搬來,用水洗過後,一口氣架起了四個石板烤肉架,還另外挖了三座土窯!萬事聚齊後,一群人便在溪畔提前歡慶中秋。157Please respect copyright.PENANAFjozDfSqgU
157Please respect copyright.PENANAg4jx3lGaGD
富貴兄弟倆聞訊後,也把蔡家妻兒老小全帶過來同樂,其中也包括蔡母和劉伯父子。157Please respect copyright.PENANA7uI5AGsLhx
157Please respect copyright.PENANAXfoufptEdM
阿貴還帶來了酒和線香花火。酒讓男人們痛飲,線香花火留給女人、小孩燃放;這晚的溪畔,大人把酒言歡,孩童追逐玩樂,嬉笑聲此起彼落,熱鬧非凡。157Please respect copyright.PENANAk70ORX2QgC
157Please respect copyright.PENANAImoW2N7goV
席間,蔡母特別關心蔡蓉的病情;但她得知病徵後沒多說什麼,只是囑咐他們夫妻倆,除了遵循醫師的醫囑外,還特別告誡她,說未來幾個月內,切忌爬高爬低,莫搬重物,少拿刀剪斧搥之類的話云云。
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