冬日，藍天，小雪。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhTNcRwdWv
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFK6N50Ro2
空氣乾冷，每次呼吸都會令肺部生起輕微灼痛之感。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDIgy7meiV
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTMnR2y5mV
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkoeC6SyMM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhON7y1qSo
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhL0CMVum3
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25N0v63JKD
「小姐。」忽爾有道男聲叫住帶娣：「有興趣占卦嗎？」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKa8RdbtdN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMzEiHHnAX
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。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3YStT1ghg
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYjyIUNBJZ
「免費的。」老者沒有絲毫不悅，掏扇撥涼。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QvQcLiJv3
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3fMV18GCh
「那麼好？」帶娣生起戒心——世上哪可能有這麼便宜的事情？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCUMQwSjUz
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB0bkWshLn
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzykPeaY6I
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHtrC9yGrH
「我沒需要找答案。」帶娣斷言拒絕，再次開步。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJXX1qa0Nc
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN6bPP10z3
「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。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hSjwYbHFC
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnimchY27Jj
這話正中帶娣下懷——終身大事！291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK7kRoc51R
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD6JXkPigA
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C7ehDIK8p
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEUHuQsQbK
但單身的帶娣下個月將要踏入十九歲！291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLlep7UNM7
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMps1rOcESH
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……291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPiTu6Uu6I
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnA0dcXVBv
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。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zLgHqTLK5
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2orERMy0T
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ1RpTNXUZ
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasrnYCX3R5
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHbSzsImLE
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG1y75bMru
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf24126RvBS
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3vDf55ffF
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDspTEHBHK
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。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dlt3x8By5
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaC4D4LNJg
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8wZjGuPFJ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2fjJxDEUa
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjAKoCFTF1
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBealWBJBt
占卦老者不就是站於梅花樹下麼？難道是那棵樹？一定是！291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vivkntJAh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt3iv4Y4Vs
帶娣大喜，連聲謝過讀書人。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIR8td4ZV9
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！」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROIhjZMtko
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oFevr7rYU
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ2cWfm3re
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEb8xt5IxJ
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0UyNFyBAC
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov0p178Knt
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5ffzCywdg
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRWabZodAV
寒。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPZXDpnFbq
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuFTBqb0EM
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxIHYmlGJZ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL99uo3JInq
對方會出現嗎？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwamjTJLmgb
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEFFqXRKvI
「會。」她再三告訴自己，強要自己堅持下去。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpu10PFuIn
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJCYm9LwWd
對方會嫌棄她是窮困潦倒的大齡農家女嗎？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRpF0QAOa5
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXwvcO177B
「不會。」她不停催眠自己，未來夫君定會待她如珠如寶。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuG6gpestC
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJRiHvriuf
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPpBkSOfss
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT5Elbhatv
痛。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TqQ8jOBli
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrQis5zFi3
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBA9AL7hO4
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1AQgy1rQg
這棵樹？那棵樹？哪棵才是籤文所講的梅花樹？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn08uOcH0f
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcldNPzz72n
有可能趕在子時（一天中第一個時辰）前去到嗎？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA7HIh74pY
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bSo4xq2Q9
若果遲到，對方會否離開，不再出現？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNrOkDkRXv
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFGGglfKtf
絕望。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK3EtuFHQu
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5buCKYTOG
帶娣意識到自己沒可能在一片樹林中找到那棵樹。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4Ai3LQaJr
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhroEBGzMr
跌坐地上，哭。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh7DycFnwT
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlupuzVljR
撕心裂肺。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfcygC4V5j
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ0jui5lRq
颯颯風中，倏忽聽見杳杳嗓音：「你在找我嗎？」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U9La2EMmw
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUIh6V8nwq
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD0DfUb5Wx
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6sPOdsguT
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！」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLhyrCFcoD
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8nDxD3ax9
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……291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLCKOQQNK3
日。眾人在樹林中找到她的遺體。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg3XrAgMCi
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBn9M4yJU8
老爹呼天搶地，自責對帶娣動粗。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEPdfaiP05
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1SV4xw9Um
村民口頭上紛表惋措，說帶娣其實是個很不錯的女生。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGB6BRLegH
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1e3TycE5V
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！」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhpB3GwHim
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzrp0dfiJH
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？」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xvBFKvWkY
