Chapter 123 I choked after eating so much dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).

"Why is your face so pale? Are you badly injured?"

After taking two quick steps, Uncle Hao was the first to reach Huang Ying.

He crouched down and reached out to pull up Huang Ying's trouser leg to check her injuries.

But the next moment, his hand suddenly froze awkwardly in mid-air.

Because when he remembered, Fish and Aunt Fat were still there.

Seeing this, Shi Yu, ever considerate, spoke up at just the right moment, "Uncle Hao, I heard you know some simple treatments for sprains and bruises, so could you please take a look at my mother?"

After a moment of hesitation, Uncle Hao quickly agreed, "Yes, yes."

Sometimes, when the fish gave permission, he couldn't wait to pick up Huang Ying's injured foot and lift up her trouser leg to check on it.

When his hand touched her skin, Huang Ying's back stiffened and her cheeks felt faintly hot.

I felt incredibly uncomfortable.

She instinctively wanted to refuse and pull her foot back.

Uncle Hao, however, didn't give her that chance at all.

Because he cared about her, he wouldn't feel at ease unless he saw her with his own eyes.

Seeing this, Auntie Pang smiled. "Shiyu! I'm leaving this place to you. I'm going back to watch the shop."

"Okay, Auntie Fatty, thank you for making this trip."

"Why are you being so polite with me?"

The plump auntie wisely left.

After carefully inspecting the items, Uncle Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I twisted my ankle and sprained a muscle, but thankfully I didn't break any bones."

"Thanks!"

Huang Ying turned her head away somewhat uncomfortably.

"Come on, get on, I'll carry you back."

Uncle Hao straightened up, then shifted his position so that his back was to Huang Ying, and then bent down again.

"Carry me back?"

Huang Ying was stunned.

Looking at that broad, reassuring back, I was momentarily dazed, and a strange feeling quickly swept through my mind.

No man has ever carried her on his back.

only……

Recalling the scene of Uncle Hao backing down that night, Huang Ying's eyes dimmed.

"No……"

"Then, Uncle Hao, thank you for your trouble."

Shi Yu interrupted Huang Ying's refusal, and then, without saying another word, she helped Huang Ying climb onto Uncle Hao's back.

"..."

Huang Ying was utterly speechless.

She gave Shi Yu a reproachful glare.

But then, Uncle Hao carried him on his back and steadily walked towards home.

Several men huddled together, smoking pipes.

Among them is Shi Daqiang.

He was in a very good mood.

Previously, Huang Yingsheng had become rebellious and caused all sorts of trouble, such as separating the family and making a fuss about divorce. Everyone on the island laughed at him.

It's fair to say he's become a laughingstock and a topic of conversation for everyone.

But things are different now.

At the sea-sealing ceremony, he wanted everyone to see for themselves how servile Huang Ying was towards him, so that he could regain his dignity.

Shi Daqiang was smugly thinking when suddenly the man next to him exclaimed, "Hey! Look! Isn't that Huang Ying? Why is that man surnamed Hao carrying her?"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look.

Then, everyone looked at Shi Daqiang.

He gave a half-smile, and his eyes became subtle.

Staring in disbelief, Shi Daqiang's old face darkened.

“Huang Ying sprained her ankle and can’t walk, so it’s normal for her to ask for help. It’s no big deal,” he said through gritted teeth.

"Really?" Someone questioned as soon as the words were spoken. "Looking at the way that man surnamed Hao looks so earnest and nervous, it doesn't seem like he's just helping out. Their relationship is more than just friendship."

“That’s right, I think so too.” The others chimed in.

Shi Daqiang felt a sudden, sharp panic.

Huang Ying's face was ruined; she became an ugly monster.

How could any man still want her?

No, it won't.

Absolutely not!

Thinking this way, Shi Daqiang felt a little more at ease.

To save face, Shi Daqiang coughed twice and deliberately spoke loudly, "Let me tell you the truth! Huang Ying regrets it now."

"During the sea-sea-sealing ceremony, he will kneel down and kowtow to me in public, begging for my forgiveness."

"Really?"

Everyone was surprised.

"Hmph! Just you wait and see!"

After pursing his lips and letting out a cold snort, Shi Daqiang walked away with his hands behind his back.

...

Uncle Hao carried Huang Ying home on his back.

Then, gently place her on the chair.

Huang Ying's cheeks flushed, and she nervously cracked her knuckles, her gaze falling to the side.

She said softly, "Thank you, you can go back now if there's nothing else."

"I...I..."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Hao scratched his head, hesitated, and looked embarrassed.

Shi Yu could tell from his expression that he had something to say.

"Uncle Hao, is there something you want to say to my mother?" Shi Yu blinked.

Uncle Hao looked at her.

Shi Yu's eyes were gentle and full of encouraging power.

"Gurgle!"

After swallowing hard, Uncle Hao finally mustered some courage.

He spoke haltingly, "Um... Yingzi, I... I like you. Could you give me a chance, so that I can... so that I can..."

"I can take care of you...protect you..."

"What?"

Huang Ying looked up at Uncle Hao in disbelief.

My breathing paused for a moment.

Compared to Huang Ying's surprise, Shi Yu was much calmer, without even a change in expression.

Because she had already guessed it.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Huang Ying bit her lip, as if remembering something.

She lowered her gaze and touched her face. "I'm already like this, I'm not in the mood for jokes."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Hao's face turned pale instantly.

He moved his lips, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence through his teeth.

"You...you don't like me?"

Huang Ying didn't say anything.

Shi Yu kept sizing up Uncle Hao.

At this moment, the pain on his face seemed genuine.

After nodding to herself, Shi Yu spoke up, "Uncle Hao, do you really like my mother and want to be with her?"

"How could it be fake!"

Uncle Hao nodded vigorously a few times.

"That night, when you came to my house, why did you see my mother and me at the door and then leave in such a hurry?"

"Isn't it because they despise my mother for being disfigured and can't accept it?"

Uncle Hao was stunned for a moment.

Then, he subconsciously glanced at Huang Ying.

At that moment, he finally realized why Huang Ying had suddenly become cold towards him.

“That night, I went to the sea to get this and cut my leg, bleeding quite a bit. I was afraid of scaring you, so I hesitated for a moment and then left.”

While explaining anxiously, Uncle Hao carefully took something out of his pocket.

The mother and daughter stared intently at it.

"This...this is..." Huang Ying's pupils dilated, her face filled with disbelief, "Love Snail?"

That's right!

It's the love snail.

In this era of scarcity, when even food was scarce, the only presentable dowry was the love snail.

These snails live on steep reefs on the seabed.

It's not easy to find them, let alone high-quality ones.

At this moment, the love snail that Uncle Hao took out was not only large and round, but also brightly colored and had a faint luster.

Let alone Shi Yu, even Huang Ying has never seen a love snail of this quality.

When she married Shi Daqiang, she hadn't even seen a glimpse of a love snail.

So this is what it feels like to be valued.