冬日，藍天，小雪。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2g0TM632v
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuyLV0jnsO
空氣乾冷，每次呼吸都會令肺部生起輕微灼痛之感。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YZc5ElkGh
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2TmkFyRnY
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdfhS5S48g
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaIYdEhXiE
「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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMc89qm6AG
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsVGjMx0Hx
「小姐。」忽爾有道男聲叫住帶娣：「有興趣占卦嗎？」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssYwX8Q4zv
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwM4p6xi56
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。」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e4pNfhlwB
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieYqeTVBPK
「免費的。」老者沒有絲毫不悅，掏扇撥涼。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHwi9JbSt9
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QqCGuk4bp
「那麼好？」帶娣生起戒心——世上哪可能有這麼便宜的事情？224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMinCgyXv4j
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD9gHLM9Dz
「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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDVcq1l4jb
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPUacZKXcq
「我沒需要找答案。」帶娣斷言拒絕，再次開步。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP3n2WyiSP
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22JTwhiROd
「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。」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlP1aebSbd
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCXj6MjIVa
這話正中帶娣下懷——終身大事！224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHNbkoatK9
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0xdT2KURA
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcGF9TAJf7
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFrhn5saPO
但單身的帶娣下個月將要踏入十九歲！224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTK0RFzTiV
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VUABHYOBl
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……224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsreRPBjhmx
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc75Yaxxr1
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。」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY2jwItIyf
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHi2sJi3f4
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6VbWnZO0q
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmtPHlHNOW
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX8zO8U8mC
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON5rKxnWVJ
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5maiLcQPqp
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIvL63nf8k
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhqFTARWa9
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。」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcUJTAFq1Z
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7e9bW0wLR
「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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtp6zIRlnx
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6DpV2HEu3
「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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd2MRqCieh
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAgh8Zk6ln
占卦老者不就是站於梅花樹下麼？難道是那棵樹？一定是！224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPFYLMPrwV
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFheSHjozJ
帶娣大喜，連聲謝過讀書人。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMYgCF6ysC
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！」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwlLkTXSTI
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsiiJrdFgl
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjm8nTvncw
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mwUgrEmgx
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoiEhCwNPn
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwABr3ZAQ0
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrrFLtKT3U
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6bxXBPrQw
寒。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL1bxR4kcN
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCXdHBc95C
「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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3JVRvCIqy
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqFnDaVrrf
對方會出現嗎？224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7B4M1q9qu
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakuSGg8ZHY
「會。」她再三告訴自己，強要自己堅持下去。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zwMEg8B8e
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMuVLxjGCJ
對方會嫌棄她是窮困潦倒的大齡農家女嗎？224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsM0KdFUUn
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qhN0fgB0t
「不會。」她不停催眠自己，未來夫君定會待她如珠如寶。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqvBXlBbK9
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQrzoeDdIw
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnDmtPhl8l
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBm8iqKMyp
痛。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RWweJMDhq
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU686ScTbh
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ7msRx6ji
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5sHq8tOdb
這棵樹？那棵樹？哪棵才是籤文所講的梅花樹？224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRgG1UnJyM
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtBPJC7AGO
有可能趕在子時（一天中第一個時辰）前去到嗎？224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZhSBLDh8s
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKPX2wNbmy
若果遲到，對方會否離開，不再出現？224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlm71YM7nc
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUhKMgTOUW
絕望。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpqL01yvWA
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZMj0jBEmj
帶娣意識到自己沒可能在一片樹林中找到那棵樹。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80Lzler9XJ
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHr7gzrnBt
跌坐地上，哭。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmLCbb0Avi
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv2oKvyTTw
撕心裂肺。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMevWytpQn0
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDj42JRox3y
颯颯風中，倏忽聽見杳杳嗓音：「你在找我嗎？」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7jcp3Iwpj
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z7mKUEyxA
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。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp23gODI1ps
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B63RFoyqH
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！」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwR6NJyEcv
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXNZgf04qj
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……224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtjiVSFsAU
日。眾人在樹林中找到她的遺體。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q7i0cD6RD
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5zAoXzMDp
老爹呼天搶地，自責對帶娣動粗。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfxrwQqMYY
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MFxBchnRS
村民口頭上紛表惋措，說帶娣其實是個很不錯的女生。224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNvA8uzRgW
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPDJoIg1pZ
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！」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUa7ICxwMw
224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmUIorZ1Hh
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？」224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k1FpqC3cJ
