初夏時節,嶺南村的梅樹已結實累累,村裡不論是已出嫁還是尚未出嫁的女子,此時都在滿樹青綠下,以帶繭的雙手採擷一顆顆脆嫩青梅。181Please respect copyright.PENANADky5QuXC1Q
181Please respect copyright.PENANArhWXcrlooP
「女採青梅去,郎騎竹馬來,兩小無猜訴情意。女若有情,郎也有意,青梅掛枝頭,正是嫁娶好時節。」今年剛滿十五歲的青兒,一邊哼唱採梅歌,一邊將採下的青梅丟進背著的竹筐裡。很快地,竹筐裡滿滿青梅的重量就壓得她幾乎要彎了腰,卻也讓她樂得笑彎了眉眼。181Please respect copyright.PENANAOxDXSOiJJf
181Please respect copyright.PENANA8vMoJZOl7x
採收完後,青兒踏著輕盈步伐穿梭於梅樹間,她穿著的桃紅衣衫,以及梳在腦後烏黑油亮的髮辮,在滿園嫩青翠綠中鮮明歡快地躍動著。181Please respect copyright.PENANANO9QHXqaDE
181Please respect copyright.PENANAi08yxyo4QN
「梅姨,今天上午的份我採完了,妳來看看啊。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAOnS8YVbl0S
181Please respect copyright.PENANAemvFhz9qkJ
青兒一股腦將沉甸甸的竹筐放到地上,一名身材矮胖的婦人緩緩走來,瞇起眼睛笑道:「青兒,妳還是一樣俐落勤快呢,就這麼趕著去見妳的阿二哥呀。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7bBoCTh7A
181Please respect copyright.PENANAu5UOz5tOrC
青兒的臉頰瞬間漲紅得像熟透的梅果,嘟起嘴說道:「梅姨,妳就別再取笑我了,我要去送飯了,等會兒就回來啊。」181Please respect copyright.PENANASsyJbVB8bR
181Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ67J0Ll4u
梅姨望著青兒迫不及待向前奔去的身影,不禁嘆道:「姑娘家一到了這年紀,心跟身子都要飛到別人身上去囉。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAH6WTa9SEAh
181Please respect copyright.PENANA6HDmMTe6VM
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181Please respect copyright.PENANASZmdVwR6tQ
繡著斗大「陳」字的赭紅色旗幟,歷經百年歲月更迭,今日仍高懸於陳家醋坊的簷柱,隨風飄揚。181Please respect copyright.PENANAJMme0FKoWD
181Please respect copyright.PENANASm27IgXE4H
而在醋坊裡,數十個醋罈排列齊整,裡頭新釀的醋液,是流經嶺南村的烏江江水、今年初摘的青梅,以及陳家秘傳的醋母所融混而成。醋坊長工們打著赤膊,他們勤奮地翻攪醋液,以激出強勁的青澀酸味,之後他們就會將醋罈儲放進醋窖,待漫長時間醞釀出深厚醋香。181Please respect copyright.PENANA3vYoNEW60U
181Please respect copyright.PENANAR0b2kv1GUi
「阿二哥,我帶飯來了,休息一下吧。」青兒和她嬌甜的嗓音一同溜進醋坊裡。181Please respect copyright.PENANAA0xqZPRJYx
181Please respect copyright.PENANACNpzESVdkd
在她面前的高壯男子停下手邊工作,那如磐石般剛硬方正的臉龐,在看見青兒的瞬間變得柔和許多。181Please respect copyright.PENANAX4FXmhSWQw
181Please respect copyright.PENANAx5UIsKiFIx
「趙二,青兒又幫你送飯了啊,你差不多該把人家娶回家了吧,這麼好的姑娘可是很難找的啊。」另一名長工將手搭在趙二肩上,對他嘻笑道。181Please respect copyright.PENANAhl7n5CYRIc
181Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5L1Rv9siv
趙二馬上沉著臉揮開對方手臂,然後接過青兒遞來的飯盒,溫聲道:「謝謝,別累壞自己。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAgsBodEY2GP
181Please respect copyright.PENANALZnLSOitBL
「我不會累,阿二哥你做這麼粗重的活,才要小心別累壞身子呢。」青兒甜滋滋的笑,勾起她面頰上的小酒窩。181Please respect copyright.PENANAPt2c9bkz8l
181Please respect copyright.PENANAQZO0gTGQGe
「青兒!真巧啊,居然在這見到妳。」聽見有人叫喚自己,原本還向著趙二的青兒轉過身,驚道:「明榮少爺,你怎麼來這裡了。」181Please respect copyright.PENANA5qC5uiPepO
181Please respect copyright.PENANAlQrUFVJTo0
「畢竟我是這醋坊的繼承人,有空就要過來看看這裡的情況,還好這裡的夥計勤快認真,我也不用操心了。」明榮一邊說,一邊朝青兒等人走來,他的容貌生得白淨俊朗,身形挺拔,¬穿的衣裳雖簡樸素雅,質料卻是上好的。181Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZkiYPVfl3
181Please respect copyright.PENANANOllHLnuyu
趙二看著這位村裡最富裕的陳家獨生子,再比照穿著粗布衣衫的自己,如此雲泥之別,不禁讓他自慚形穢。181Please respect copyright.PENANAp6QxHKJVQy
181Please respect copyright.PENANAw37lhebAGP
「嘿,沒想到陳家的大少爺,做事這麼認真啊。」青兒笑著打趣道。181Please respect copyright.PENANATRSwdcJuR1
181Please respect copyright.PENANA6evEas862v
「唉啊,我可不是那種閒閒無事的紈褲子弟啊,話說,妳姊姊近日身體還好嗎?」明榮格外關切地問。181Please respect copyright.PENANAMzAnJjshsR
181Please respect copyright.PENANAERV53uFxUy
「姊姊她很好啊,最近她能夠下床走動,也沒咳得像以前那般嚴重,真的要謝謝少爺幫她請來的大夫呢。」181Please respect copyright.PENANA14R8HMpYIe
181Please respect copyright.PENANAjEYQCQjUN9
「是嗎,那真的太好了。」明榮神情舒坦了下來,接著道:「青兒,那梅園採收的活兒妳做得還習慣嗎,妳才剛來幾日,應該還有些累吧。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAnE5QHggYtz
181Please respect copyright.PENANANVGvrzBsHC
「不累啊,梅姨還稱讚我是新來的姑娘裡最勤快的呢。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAZG4qTEJxI1
181Please respect copyright.PENANAz3vMtKa5dd
趙二愣愣地捧著飯盒,插不上半句話,看見青兒也對著明榮露出那甜甜的笑,他心裡就湧出一股酸楚。181Please respect copyright.PENANAO9NN9Qe0EP
181Please respect copyright.PENANAPkokA1FBw9
他不懂這份酸楚從何而來,只好默默低頭離去,悶著頭吃著熱騰騰的飯菜。181Please respect copyright.PENANAh6I2xcj1NJ
181Please respect copyright.PENANAlnvhPvVunu
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181Please respect copyright.PENANAbVl3Gdmm5O
夕陽西下,天邊的暖紅霞光透過醋坊敞開的門扉,撫照著一甕甕密封起來的醋醰子,也籠罩著趙二獨自一人的身影。181Please respect copyright.PENANAXuO6i8Kemk
181Please respect copyright.PENANAKa3ElNkd3o
為了彌補自己因分心而延誤的工作,趙二此時仍留在醋坊裡,心緒卻還是被青兒跟明榮對話的情景所擾亂,他越拚命叫自己不去想,青兒那向著明榮的笑,在他腦裡就越清晰鮮明。181Please respect copyright.PENANArVMl9BOzAY
181Please respect copyright.PENANAfEebm1GaAS
趙二悶悶地垂下了頭,然後,便瞥見落在角落地板上那熟悉的物事,他趕緊將它撿起,躺在他寬厚手心的,是一只平安符。181Please respect copyright.PENANAatyCPaDGIp
181Please respect copyright.PENANAZ38xGQHQh2
他記得,這是青兒去逝的娘親從廟裡為她求來的,青兒五歲時,就沒了娘親疼愛,她只能用小小的手緊緊捏著這平安符,說什麼也放不開。181Please respect copyright.PENANAmIzIFLBHhZ
181Please respect copyright.PENANAJr1i1hfClG
那時趙二就住在青兒家附近,他見這個小自己四歲的小娃兒十分可憐,便執起她又嫩又軟的小手,牽著她到處玩耍,看著青兒泛起小酒窩的笑臉,趙二臉上雖沒什麼表情,心底卻是歡喜的。181Please respect copyright.PENANAOdqEm3JruP
181Please respect copyright.PENANAdNihcseWoR
兩人就這樣一同度過十年歲月,青兒稚嫩的小手,也長成強健勤勞的雙手,再也不需要他一直牽著了。181Please respect copyright.PENANAUCOnXcrKP9
181Please respect copyright.PENANAXy0gBN2QQS
趙二不免有些感慨,他將平安符緊緊握在手心,然後奔出了醋坊,逐漸隱沒山巒間的夕陽,將他身後的影子拉得長長的。181Please respect copyright.PENANACXSbMMcZH6
181Please respect copyright.PENANAJmi24HfcNp
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181Please respect copyright.PENANAzMP5GyV794
梅園裡的一大片青梅綠葉,浸染於夕陽的暖紅餘暉,並透出一股淡淡梅香,而趙二穿梭於叢叢梅樹間,急切找尋在他心尖上的那人兒。181Please respect copyright.PENANA3hLHNATa5s
181Please respect copyright.PENANAflPFfuXwCG
很快地,在染上夕色的一片青綠中,那最為明豔的桃紅身影躍入他眼底,連同在她身前的明榮少爺,就像根尖銳的細針狠狠鑽進他心窩。181Please respect copyright.PENANAursiwXouq3
181Please respect copyright.PENANAGF8qIUAhV2
趙二當場愣在原地,反倒是青兒察覺到身旁的動靜,向他喊道:「阿二哥,你來了啊,怎麼不叫我一聲呢?」181Please respect copyright.PENANAsxKqDeDvn1
181Please respect copyright.PENANAIc6KddzheO
如同孩提時那般,青兒踏著輕快腳步朝他奔來,趙二卻覺得青兒離他越來越遠。181Please respect copyright.PENANA7a9s3QQkv5
181Please respect copyright.PENANAPcWYEXcSSw
「妳有東西掉在醋坊,還妳。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAG5UVNcUFGq
181Please respect copyright.PENANAwX6luXnD7O
趙二將平安符放回青兒手裡,青兒欣喜地笑道:「啊,我正想去尋我的平安符,沒想到你已經幫我找回來了,果然阿二哥對我最好了。」181Please respect copyright.PENANArnDVeKW5Y0
181Please respect copyright.PENANA9gAqRNIdLA
青兒的笑容,讓趙二一瞬間心生猶豫,但他還是斬釘截鐵地說道:「青兒,以後妳不用幫我送飯了。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAo3mnhzWcIo
181Please respect copyright.PENANAkIWYEZqYuG
「阿、阿二哥!?」青兒驚愕地瞪大雙眼,雖然旁人都道趙二就像個頑石般面無表情,但青兒此刻還是能從他眉眼間看出焦躁的心緒。181Please respect copyright.PENANAK2TjOTIkUn
181Please respect copyright.PENANA4tmpZ2FqIC
「畢竟,妳已經大了,跟我在一起會招人誤會,我走了。」話語剛落,趙二就頭也不回地跑走,拋下了身後不斷呼喚他的聲音。181Please respect copyright.PENANAiDATpLnoaB
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趙二就這樣一路跑回醋坊裡,勁烈的醋酸味從鼻腔滲入心裡,氣喘吁吁的他,思緒也亂成一團。181Please respect copyright.PENANAPOgfO2AeYA
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這些年來,他是把青兒當作親妹妹看待,如今,他卻搞不清自己了。181Please respect copyright.PENANAzgFtpuZs9N
181Please respect copyright.PENANA8YjvjmBFPi
「阿二哥,你在這啊,我在後面一直追著你,你卻都不回頭看我一眼。」毫無預警地,青兒踏進醋坊裡,令趙二更加慌亂,胸膛的心跳聲婉如擂鼓般劇烈。181Please respect copyright.PENANArp9qWuF4uh
181Please respect copyright.PENANAH1A4zoRtqs
「阿二哥,其實你是吃醋了吧」青兒眨著水潤雙眸,唇角勾起巧黠的笑意。181Please respect copyright.PENANAP1ahMKUSLI
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「我沒偷吃醋坊裡的醋。」趙二直白地答道。181Please respect copyright.PENANAvqyTdg94mN
181Please respect copyright.PENANA75sT8tT07M
「我知道你沒偷吃,但像你這麼大一個醋罈子,飄出來的醋味我都聞到了。」青兒湊到趙二身前,唇邊的笑意更深了。181Please respect copyright.PENANAfwT5lRUcCi
181Please respect copyright.PENANA2kFDx4yJuA
「你放心,明榮少爺的聘禮,可是要送給我姐姐的喔。」181Please respect copyright.PENANAUVG14YFg4M
181Please respect copyright.PENANAzdbO1bxutK
趙二剛直的臉龐難得浮現驚訝神色,然後青兒牽起他的手,遞來熟悉的觸感及暖意。181Please respect copyright.PENANAojC9L4KIwY
181Please respect copyright.PENANAsxsyPwR07h
「阿二哥,我就等著你送禮到我家門口了,以後我就每天用你釀的醋,做飯給你吃,你說好不好啊。」青兒的笑靨,在趙二心底化為如蜜糖般的甜。181Please respect copyright.PENANAVkidEmnE8e
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趙二厚實的大手,執起他從小到大牽著的青兒的手,作為他的答覆。181Please respect copyright.PENANAiEVfw8NMDk