冬日，藍天，小雪。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vmJgd0K9n
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx98IvnssmY
空氣乾冷，每次呼吸都會令肺部生起輕微灼痛之感。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnFQfARnBP
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhePtnhcA47
帶娣不期然騰出手來，將掩鼻布巾稍稍拉整，以保存溫熱濕潤的鼻息。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iDrOhZyV7
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB7UuftjZl
「若有快馬一匹，那該多好！」她心想。雖說不是弱質纖纖大家閨秀，但背負整整一籃子大蘿蔔在寒冬雪地上陡步行走於她亦是一件苦事。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sko9w30HA
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ogaLmcv7
「小姐。」忽爾有道男聲叫住帶娣：「有興趣占卦嗎？」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUlyphqrPw
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLllI12DmnT
帶娣循聲望去，只見不遠處梅樹下有一老者正在向她點首微笑。沒有回應的必要，但帶娣自然而然地回了句：「不了。沒錢。」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuu7WKmiK8
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrAak9VAGP
「免費的。」老者沒有絲毫不悅，掏扇撥涼。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ503BnADEaj
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6zQNSyXhV
「那麼好？」帶娣生起戒心——世上哪可能有這麼便宜的事情？230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlMMq7p5sC
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJjBeBdXed
「占卦師乃天界人間之橋樑，工作不外乎『為凡人找答案』和『為天界傳遞訊息』。」光頭紅頰白長鬚的老者笑意盈盈，遠看活像寺廟神像。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WNJ8tOQyO
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywSQwLs8Tx
「我沒需要找答案。」帶娣斷言拒絕，再次開步。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx36l5YdJq9
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVyqsZZRj0
「但天界託我傳訊息給你。」老者不急不躁，語速不徐不疾：「關於你的終身大事。」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAw4vqj4zU
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29IpWN3cR2
這話正中帶娣下懷——終身大事！230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B1zEXUojJ
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoTqIk72qZ
農村女大多十三、十四歲時出嫁，以早日生孩子，為夫家提供更多工作人口。而且農村人自知身份卑微，對成親對象沒多要求，只消四肢健全、頭腦正常、能夠正常工作，再醜再窮亦不會乏人問津。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHziGZrvKn
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWZfNftgTv
但單身的帶娣下個月將要踏入十九歲！230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRoQamxo4h
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc1JsfgYPz
怎麼會無人提親？不知有多少鄉里背著她議論紛紛，甚至有人已認定帶娣是個不祥人，有意無意疏遠她、孤立她……230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLifs7a9pV
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedpnK2mOzN
帶娣神色緊張，急步走向老者，恭敬奉上三條大蘿蔔：「請你為我占卦吧。」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5VeP1CCSW
往大城路上，帶娣不斷思索手中籤文之意。老者不予解釋，只給她一張籤文，奈何她目不識丁，村內又無人識字，那可怎麼辦？苦惱之際，她驀地發覺自己已到達目的地——大城市集。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALpnbx5YXN
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A9zFiHtuk
她千里迢迢到大城來就是為了賣出大蘿蔔。老爹種蘿蔔很有一手，尺寸大、水份足、味清甜，每年都能賣得好價錢，賺來的錢足夠買下過冬糧食和一條肥豬肉。她努力叫賣。蘿蔔的好有目共睹，可惜今年經濟不景氣，人人都想年末多留一分錢在口袋，不停雞蛋裡挑骨頭，務求低價買蘿蔔。帶娣見怪不怪，沒有退讓，確保了收入，卻增加了賣蘿蔔所需時間。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ5pJxhC0E
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5ooD7ch3V
蘿蔔賣清光時，天色已黑，大多店鋪已打烊。帶娣苦苦掙扎於該否連夜冒險趕路回家，翌日再來大城買東西，抑或花點小錢到客棧投宿，翌日買糧食後踏上歸途……忽爾靈機一觸，決定到寺廟借宿。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiKiXJQNM5
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0g3KXLdd4
天氣極寒，寺廟擠滿前來借宿的無家可歸者。寺廟住持命人為大家生火取暖，還提供一頓免費齋菜給大家充飢。帶娣留意到角落有一位看似讀書人的小伙子，連忙厚著臉皮上前請他解籤。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXSMAArnHo
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7quUcOZSnI
讀書人聽原委、接籤文，先是一呆，繼而一笑：「籤文說，小寒當日，你的真命天子會出現在梅花樹下。」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg7b4ifkUl
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfiv6PY4Xt
「哪棵梅花樹？甚麼時辰？他是誰？甚麼樣子？我們是否會馬上成婚？」帶娣求嫁之心洋溢於表，忘形緊扯著讀書人衣袖不放手。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacD8Wjf2I4
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iogY7MCe3
「籤文沒有提及。不然你試想想有沒有哪棵梅花樹於你有特別意義。」讀書人眉頭輕皺，擔心帶娣會扯破他的衣服。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnQlQghjSA
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzUwKsOWr1
占卦老者不就是站於梅花樹下麼？難道是那棵樹？一定是！230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s3UDHnWkU
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA7eNCOLQQ
帶娣大喜，連聲謝過讀書人。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRTuYsiMLS
回家以後，帶娣一直心心念念小寒當日將會出現的那抹身影。神不守舍，工作頻頻犯錯，招致金錢損失。老爹問清緣故後悖然大怒：「你這笨蛋！怎麼會相信占卦這回事？動動腦筋吧！」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvum7KcKM3n
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8A9DQk5g4
罵聲震天，吵得鄰居們清楚聽到對話內容。帶娣成為村中笑柄，人人皆拿她當笑料。自尊受損，帶娣提不起勁工作，乾脆窩在家裡呆等小寒到來。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJpmI9Aif6
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHVQSIK3CF
顏面受損，加上帶娣不願工作，老爹對帶娣更是沒甚麼好臉色。某夜，老爹再次因瑣碎小事對帶娣大發脾氣。盛怒之下，他失控暴打帶娣。帶娣咬緊牙關，不吭一聲，雙臂抱頭護著臉蛋，心中只求不要被打得臉青鼻腫，以免在真命天子心中留下不好印象。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJfz5gtAfy
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUs7Np8NzD
踏入亥時，帶娣所有家人已倒頭大睡。她抵著劇痛起床，匆匆梳洗打扮，披上厚衣離家，趕在子時之前到達梅花樹下。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44athUw5FE
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuplgbtUMzm
寒。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlDgh5Odh3
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE0mPpbNZQ
「小寒」標誌著開始進入一年中最寒冷的日子，奈何身寒不及心寒。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFmvzVB2UU
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReyk1Bwisk
對方會出現嗎？230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u2yVKARr7
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25C4ZHXh2O
「會。」她再三告訴自己，強要自己堅持下去。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rgjN2jAkL
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONr7rpKOj2
對方會嫌棄她是窮困潦倒的大齡農家女嗎？230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS2t6DGdE7
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU74TaUxM27
「不會。」她不停催眠自己，未來夫君定會待她如珠如寶。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQaSztcBYf
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJuRO8J22y
身體的痛、環境的寒和內心對幸福愛情的憧憬形成強烈對比，她的思緒於希望與失望之間來回跳躍。忐忑、不安、未知將她情緒推向極致。不可以！她誓要把眼淚強忍下來——總不能甫見面就哭得一塌糊塗。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGugGdAavXR
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoX9V4v2aW
痛。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK239JefMG2
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO6auJS4ok
頭痛欲裂。後腦剛才被老爹重擊過，加上此刻寒風吹襲，受傷位置彷如被巨石擠壓，思緒漸見不清。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cBejGtEZi
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKhyzXgfCw
這棵樹？那棵樹？哪棵才是籤文所講的梅花樹？230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e1SqRuMVA
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeg8jF8qtk
有可能趕在子時（一天中第一個時辰）前去到嗎？230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuY35AkX80E
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyybsNwvxKH
若果遲到，對方會否離開，不再出現？230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpoM1lEJyv
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxUn5TQ5O7
絕望。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TAX3QngZm
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZPgfSKwSL
帶娣意識到自己沒可能在一片樹林中找到那棵樹。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGufzDa8TW
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8rGrPc50e
跌坐地上，哭。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay7VXbNXmV
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnTJvFlJ5J
撕心裂肺。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyqCJvvbIQ
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVH9TLGpfe
颯颯風中，倏忽聽見杳杳嗓音：「你在找我嗎？」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SjMKlKMpr
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI05D4rPTvU
帶娣抬頭，驚見不遠處聳立一棵參天梅花樹。她連忙止住哭聲，撐起身子往梅花樹跑去。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pOCJE3FmT
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc1BgFTZn1
樹下有人影。對方面朝前方、背對她。帶娣不假思索，衝前從後環抱對方。對方沒有掙扎，轉過身來將她擁入懷裡。帶娣哭，哭中帶笑，笑容裡滿是幸福快樂：「是真的！真的有人會愛我！」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuGJ0bN4oc
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNFcryDjV4
她抬起頭，想要看看真命天子的臉。誰料天上繁星突然變亮，星光耀眼得她再也睜不開眼……230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcf9UkinbH
日。眾人在樹林中找到她的遺體。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ7aH7QCRr
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXlMap3YLp
老爹呼天搶地，自責對帶娣動粗。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6kKTgzdA8
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa6gzWhjWp
村民口頭上紛表惋措，說帶娣其實是個很不錯的女生。230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjpKuUV7yt
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3s8EpDU37
讀書人從寺廟住持口中聽見帶娣死訊，暗忖：「那農婦真笨，竟會相信鬼神之說！」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzjnJMbc9k
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryhziqOZNy
老者從路人口中聽見帶娣遭遇，心裡發笑：「她真笨！我為了騙幾個大蘿蔔而亂寫一通，怎麼她會相信？」230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopi84P3kVI
