「小心駛得萬年船!」禽大叔一邊向寧娣說教,一邊在她面前攤開百多個銅板,慢慢逐個逐個數。他知道寧娣是村內出名誠實的好孩子,但還是放心不下,要親自點算清楚。寧娣有點尷尬。明明是客人,卻像個做錯事的小孩子般當眾被罰站。奈何禽大叔沒有講錯,雙方當面點算好款項,清清楚楚,才能避開爭拗。438Please respect copyright.PENANA1eXGrefwlq
438Please respect copyright.PENANA65dgDzdHjC
禽大叔,大熱天時,仍穿戴整齊,不像其他男村民那樣光著上身。光頭,身形圓潤,挺著大肚子。笑眼笑嘴,雙顴紅潤,額頭飽滿,像個彌勒佛。但距離佛的境界,他還有一段很長的距離。眼神裡總有一份執著,執著要活得好。為了活得好,他凡事謹慎,深怕會吃虧。438Please respect copyright.PENANAz6LzENJHaf
438Please respect copyright.PENANAvyep7nYl0G
數錢,他很熟手。不消一會,已完成點算。如約拿來數十隻雞蛋,交給寧娣。「我留了最好的雞蛋給你呢!」隨口一句好話,當是給客人的贈品吧。寧娣雙手接過滿籃雞蛋,歡天喜地,一蹦一跳回家去,想要做紅雞蛋賀小弟滿月。438Please respect copyright.PENANAKG1vn87Yq2
438Please respect copyright.PENANAvheQim4orr
禽大叔望著遠去的背影,不自覺揚起了嘴角,邪笑著。做成一筆大生意,賺了夠花兩個月的生活費。438Please respect copyright.PENANA6fPFmtwG72
438Please respect copyright.PENANABN7eZj9FI4
「若然未報,時辰未到。」鄰檔賣飽的包大嬸,無故仰天放聲自語:「空有一副佛相,卻無佛的善心。」這番話,明顯是衝著禽大叔而來。438Please respect copyright.PENANAeLB0Q9kKp5
438Please respect copyright.PENANAH2JBtGt0IN
禽大叔沒有動氣,對長得像白饅頭一樣的方臉包大嬸,報以微微一笑,才施然回到屋裡去,懶理她在外邊恨得牙癢癢。和女人吵架,男人只有吃虧的份兒。況且,被妒忌根本不是動氣的理由。438Please respect copyright.PENANAvLn75nh1KS
438Please respect copyright.PENANA39MWk4cKS9
村子小,人不多,離大城遠,加上每隔幾年就會有災難性的暴風雨,房舍損毀嚴重。這村子實在不適合養禽畜,因此沒村民敢以飼養禽畜為生。偏偏禽大叔膽子大,認為這是天賜良機,硬要在家裡養雞。438Please respect copyright.PENANALUk4MLnJKR
438Please respect copyright.PENANA2eDIYJekPp
起初資金不多,只養了兩隻母雞。兩隻母雞,窮盡畢生精力,生下多隻沒有生命的大蛋。大蛋失去了繁衍後代的意義,卻為禽大叔帶來可觀收入。他是村裡唯一賣蛋的人。只要定價和大城一樣,村民定會捨難取易,光顧他。438Please respect copyright.PENANAX8oXdePJKN
438Please respect copyright.PENANApTGWtxygca
就此賺了人生的第一桶金。然後,不停買雞養雞、生蛋賣蛋,累積更多財富。苦心經營多年,時至今日,他已是村內第三富有的人,僅次於石老太和棧娘。本該滿足,惟心裡充斥著難以言喻的空洞。438Please respect copyright.PENANAjC8xZ6uEmg
438Please respect copyright.PENANAO4sWIiCYrz
禽大叔回到屋裡,端出一張路邊拾來的半殘古琴。438Please respect copyright.PENANAqfyCTOStMH
438Please respect copyright.PENANAsFmkd7d1Ez
琴,乃四藝之首。琴藝世家,在舊社會地位高崇。為權貴撫琴一曲,已能得到貴重財帛作賞。千金散盡還復來。自以為是,自命清高。不屑人間煙火,難明世間苦淚。438Please respect copyright.PENANA00Wtsf0S2v
438Please respect copyright.PENANAn9l5yd4hI1
適逢社會動盪,士農工商地位大逆轉。家財散盡,曾經的清高,突變為人間不屑的廢物,沒能得到半點煙火果腹。438Please respect copyright.PENANAzmr9krolKl
438Please respect copyright.PENANAglavI4pVzD
雪夜,路邊,飢寒交逼,抱琴痛哭。438Please respect copyright.PENANAX5nWtOIRpZ
438Please respect copyright.PENANAliu3NvpIra
淚乾,望向懷中家傳古琴,倏忽心生一問。為何自己還要死命抱著它?賣了它,不就有錢買吃的?惟,祖訓曰:「琴在,家在。琴滅,家滅。」如夢初醒,原來他正掌握整個琴氏的存亡!他告誡自己,今夜不能入眠,必須守琴到天明。438Please respect copyright.PENANAlIDMU9mKZ4
438Please respect copyright.PENANActxSu1tHsR
月落日出,暖和的陽光驅走雪寒,給他帶來活著的希望。活著多好。明明連日沒有半分糧落肚,抱琴的他,步伐竟可如斯輕快。快步走到城中暴發戶門前,說要獻上「天下第一琴」…琴滅,家滅,琴氏不復存於世上。438Please respect copyright.PENANAf3HtY8avRT
438Please respect copyright.PENANArGRYJVBhsK
無家的人,還剩下甚麼?自己。往後的日子,他只可以依靠自己的一雙手,養活自己。離開琴氏故地,輾轉來到這村子。落地生根,養雞賣蛋…438Please respect copyright.PENANAYCBwbH3Ziu
438Please respect copyright.PENANA0YEDFkSnYS
撫琴一曲,音韻悠遠、寬廣、深沉,有如回憶的深邃。曲盡,只聞雞飛拍翼之喧鬧。苦笑。喧鬧,不就是活著的證明嗎?438Please respect copyright.PENANAa60N5o0u1S
438Please respect copyright.PENANAJn6xYHnB6E
禽大叔收起了琴,打了一盆水洗臉。塵垢盡去,水波重歸平靜。望見水中慈祥佛影,如幻似真。向來不信神佛的他,倏忽心頭一顫,輕聲問:「若『萬法皆空』,為何當晚的飢寒會是那麼實在,實在得令我決意將琴賣掉?」438Please respect copyright.PENANAJMFVR1JygC
438Please respect copyright.PENANA66NOiVmFu1
未等佛影回答,髮末的一滴水珠搶先跳入盆中,泛起漣漪,打亂佛影。438Please respect copyright.PENANAEkamDFr2tY
438Please respect copyright.PENANAPRvIDixKt6
禽大叔霍然站起,走回屋內。「果然,還是只可以靠自己!」他如此重覆呢喃著。