安家正
舊时的商业网点实在少得可怜,一个县往往只在县城有一条大街,大街中段有几间平房组建的百货公司,买卖物品主要靠“货郎担”和“庙会”。
“货郎担”不妨看作是流动的小型妇幼商店。“货郎担”均是小本经营,可是品种非常齐全,且送货上门。这对被束缚在灶间锅台的家庭主妇来说,当然是极大的期待。因而,货郎担的职业标志——拨浪鼓一响,村里的大闺女小媳妇莫不顷刻云集,选购自己心仪的物品。然而,货郎担经营的毕竟只是针头线脑、香粉胭脂之类,与乡村春耕关系不大。为了生产,交易的必要场所是庙会。
庙会上各种生产物资十分齐全,除锄镰锨之外,犁、铧、耧都会出现,牲畜交易有专门的“骡马大会”。文登汪疃集就曾是胶东最大的牲畜交易中心。
农人几乎没有不赶庙会的。当时芝罘地界有“三大庙会”,各具特色,是社会生活的一景。庙会必有特色食品,这也是人们赶这个庙会不赶那个庙会的原因。
西郊有一个太平顶庙会,特色食品是冰糖葫芦。一群闯外的青年,看到了老北京糖球,就把它引入当地,只楚的糖球红火一时。
其次是东郊的庙会,印象中大概叫庙后宫庙会。有三类小食品风靡该庙会,一是糖炒栗子,二是炸地瓜片,三是爆玉米花。这三种小食品均为老太婆所钟爱,孝女们必在庙会上采购若干,拎着敬献母亲。
第三是市区的毓璜顶庙会,这里的特色食品是水煎包。其实别的庙会也有水煎包,但毓璜顶庙会上的水煎包更具特色。制作者是一个外号叫吴四彪子的拳师。当年的体育课叫国术课,他兼作体育教员,在国术课上露两手,常惹得众人喝彩。让吴四彪子露脸的还有他做的水煎包,一层焦黄的饹(音)儿,入嘴不腻不滑,非常有名。
庙会还是祖孙三代情感交融的平台,老奶奶都希望领着小孙子逛庙会,享受天伦之乐。祖孙三代逛得时间久了,就借助于小吃充饥,某种小吃吃上了瘾,就会常常念叨。庙会的小吃是大众化的,物美价廉。几乎每个庙会都有油条出摊,老奶奶拎回一束油条,会令孙子欢喜雀跃。如今仍有不少人保留着长辈带着逛庙会的美好记忆,吃的什么忘却了,“奶奶亲我”却念念不忘。有这份感情,庙会功不可没。
Temple fairs are a platform to strengthen the emotional ties between grandparents and grandchildren. Grandmothers liked taking little grandchildren to temple fairs and enjoying the happiness of being together. After strolling at the temple fair for a long time, they would buy some snacks to satisfy their hunger. Once addicted to certain snacks, they would talk about them frequently. Most snacks at temple fairs are popular and cheap. There are deep-fried dough sticks stands at almost every temple fair. Grandmothers often brought home a bunch of deep-fried dough sticks from temple fairs, which would make grandchildren jump with joy. Today, many people still retain the sweet memories of going to temple fairs together with their elders. Perhaps they have forgotten what they ate, but they will never forget the “grandma’s love” for them. Temple fairs play an indispensable role in maintaining such sweet feelings.