Chapter 13: Huang

"Thank you for your good patronage, Sasha! Come again soon!" I waved goodbye as Sasha exited my shop with another crate of fresh apples. I counted the cash once again to relish in the glory of another new sale.

"Business is doing pretty good since you started scamming people less. Maybe you'll be able to afford an actual desk next," Zack teased at my own expense whilst he was writing the shipping records for the next haul. I simply scoffed and allowed him to enjoy his little jokes at my expense. I'd collect later once I had gotten my very own shop!

"I have grand ambitions Zack and they do not end here at your establishment. I have actually been making arrangements to move out of here!" I boasted. "I have been meaning to tell you, but very soon I will be able to operate my business without you here toiling away with your crates, grunts and wanton visitors!"

Zack looked at me in disbelief. Genuine disbelief. It was though he truly thought I'd never do well enough to finally move out of here. "Wow… Huang… you're moving out finally… How'd ya manage that?"

I clicked my teeth. "You underestimate the motivation of love. My sweet apple has aided me in my business for so long. He was the one who encouraged me to begin by goods to sell abroad and because of that my credibility has sky rocketed! I've been saving up to work with Kai. As he's only here 3 out of 4 months of the year, we've come to an agreement that I can rent out his shop for my business whilst he's away. It's close to the docks, so I shipping is no trouble whatsoever. It's genius!"

Zack whistled. "Look at you go. You're making something of yourself, congrats! It'll be a bit lonely here without you, but at least my friends will want to visit more now that you're not always trying to sell them something."

I paused in my jubilation to give Zack a look. "First my friend, I will be right next door. Second of all, your friends were avoiding me!?"

Zack began sputtering a reply before he pointed to the door. "O-oh look, it's a customer! Better sell them more apples, right?"

I whirled around to call out his bluff to find my beautiful husband in his signature backwards cap staring at me. His already brown complexion always looked especially stunning after a hard day's work.

"I think I'm a bit more than a customer at this point," Pete laughed, making his way over to me.

"My sweet apple, what are you doing here?" I ran around my box to give him a quick peck. "Usually you're still farming at this time of day."

"Now Huang, when have I never had enough time to come visit you?"

I began to count off my fingers. "Now let's see about that. As you know I am quite good with my numbers, so I can name the exact numeral amount of times-"

Pete held my hand before I called him out. "No need for that Honey, haha. I actually got a great idea from Van about what we can do for the business."

"But Pete what about my agreement with Kai? I just need to set aside some money for the first few monthly payments and then we can proceed."

"I wanna show you something," Pete took my hand and led me to the docks. We made our way a bit south to find an empty plot of land, fit for a small building. "This here could be your new shop."

I stared at the empty plot and then back at my beloved husband. "My salacious, loving husband… this is a pipe dream. There is nothing here, we'd have to pay Gotz to build something. We cannot afford that right now, remember what we are working towards."

"I know, but I pulled some strings and asked for some holy guidance, you may say. It can be built very soon, but Gotz will need to do some of his own renovations to make it a true shop. I really think we can do this!"

Pete had mentioned obtaining holy guidance before. At first I believed it a euphemism, but according to his offerings to the Harvest Goddess she added an elevator in the minds for the safety and convenience of all. Even I do not believe Gotz is capable of such a feat, so I've become more willing to listen to his spiritual talk. It seemed to mean something unlike the hippie Jennifer.

"I suppose..." I grimaced at the thought. My very own shop. Not to rent, but to own. Would I even have enough inventory to fill it up? Would it do well? Can I run it on my own? Will I make enough money for our family? So many questions that never would've even broached my mind years ago, ran through my head.

"Huang," Pete held my hands and gazed into my eyes. "Before we got married, I was a lazy farmer. I made just enough to get by and spent most of my time relaxing around the town or hanging out with my friends. Meeting you, getting to know you, doing business with you. You inspired me to get in gear and hustle to make a living. And..."

Pete hesitated, so I entwined my hand with his own. He looked into my eyes with a burning affection. One that I never thought would be cast onto my sight. "You helped me realize that I never wanted a regular homely housewife or even to be married to a woman. It was you, Huang, you're all I needed. The perfect husband."

Pete gestured back to the plot. "I wanted to give you a house you would be happy to live in, so I got house upgrades and we got married. Now I want your business to boom, so let me help you with that. Please?"

I held Pete's arm and we leaned into each other. "I forgot you could be such a romantic, my sweet apple." Pete blushed and looked away, but I just held him closer. I had never imagined my life to look like this, but it surpasses every alternative.

"Thank you for this chance, I will not waste it," I grinned before looking at Pete once again. He was not the best farmer in the world, but he has come a long way. He had lived in the city all his life and just needed an extra push. On the other hand, his mining skills were top notch. I still have the many gems he has given me before we were wed (I cherish them even more so now that I know they were his attempts at courtship).

"I believe I have a proposal for you now, Pete," I stroked my chin in thought.

"Where's the blue feather then?"

I took off his cap at his lame joke. "Adorable. I have an even more monetarily beneficial proposal for the both of us! Come now, to the village! I have some business deals to arrange!"

Now I was the one pulling Pete along as we made our way into town. I hurriedly explained my ideas as we went on our way.

~2 Weeks Later~

"How fresh exactly are these tomatoes, Huang? They look plump and juicy," Basil noted as he studied the package before. "Is he using a new compost?"

I adjusted my glasses and puffed my chest. "These fine tomatoes were sewn, grown and plucked this very morning by my magnanimous farmer husband, Pete. He used a special fertilizer blessed by the Harvest Goddess herself to create these magnificent specimens. I swear to you, good sir, he would tell you just the same!"

Basil gave me a quizzical look before he finally ponied up the cash. "Well, Pete has always been a reliable guy and these tomatoes look pretty good. So I'll take your word on it!"

I gave him another winning smile as I bagged his groceries and collected his wonderful gold. "Next! Why hello Manna, could I interest you in some fine divine pineapples? Or maybe a set of seraph holy earrings to go with your phenomenal new blouse?"

Today marks the day of the farm's first farmer's market. To make the extra cash Pete has been working hard at it to give me a large stockpile to sell on this fateful day. We had set up a proper stand and cash register for me to sell to any of the villagers looking for some quality farm produce straight from the source, as Pete would never have the time or aptitude to do so himself.

Gotz had built everything we needed so that I could be comfortable even in the summer's brisk heat. I had calculated with Pete's farmer expertise that we would not have enough produce by the time we wanted to begin so I commissioned both the blacksmiths to craft some fine jewelry with the gems Pete had collected. Meanwhile, I brought over the best wood in the shed I could find so that Brandon could fashion some knick knacks.

I am not blind to how the people of this town see me. I have been pushy in the past and may have given the impression that all I care about is money, but thanks to the well loved Pete they all trust my word on the sales. If they bother to ask Pete he agrees with whatever I said. Ahhh, the perks of marriage.

Considering I swore everyone in the village and more had decided to come at some point in the day proved how productive this endeavor could be… especially when I ham up the prices a tad.

Pete came by with a crate of fresh corn, ready to be sold. "Woo, all set up and ready for sale."

"Thank you, Pete, why don't you take a break?" I offered as I took the brief pause in customers to clean up.

"I was about to. I wanted sit back and watch you work your mojo actually." Pete took a seat next to me on my stool and kissed me on the cheek. "I've got to make sure I reward all the Harvest Sprites for helping me out. Now I can watch my husband make some cash money!" Pete cozied up to me hugging me despite of his sweat and the oppressive sun.

"Come now Pete! Customers may come back at any moment!" I tried peeling him off, but in actuality I could not care less if someone saw. Today was far too good a day to care.

~Bedtime~

With a great big yawn, I took off my glasses and laid them on the nightstand before crawling over Pete to my spot on the bed. We turned over to face each other and Pete had the widest grin on his face, despite the obvious exhaustion coupled along with it.

"I saw our finances. We made a huge profit today! Never knew we could make so much if I just sold my produce directly," He marvelled.

I chuckled at his naivety, "Oho my sweet apple, that is the work of an expert entrepreneur. We can make this a bi-weekly event over the weekends when everyone is free. Promote new products, rotate favorite products, I was thinking we could begin grow-"

I was interrupted by a kiss on the lips.

"This is a great start, Huang. I can already see your shop being filled with my products and yours. We'll be even more successful than every other store in Mineral Town."

"Why of course. None of them have a business man for a husband. Pete, I promise you, with me running the finances and advertisement of the farm, pretty soon you won't have to work yourself to the bone everyday."

Pete yawned and rubbed his eyes. "I dunno, it's not so bad once you get used to it. Plus, if I get lazy I'll lose the chiselled abs you love so much," He joked. I was too tired to blush so I simply kissed him in retaliation.

"Huang?"

"Yes, Pete?"

"You think we have enough? To raise a baby?" He asked anxiously. I screwed my face in thought. All of this was so that we could be financially stable while we raised our future child. So they would grow up with a bright future. As we all know love is not enough to raise a child.

After some thought I smiled and held his hand. "With a little bit more work? Yes, it'll be more than enough. Let's talk to the pastor about adoption."

Pete squeezed my hand and smiled at me. He was dozing off now, but I could the happiness was plain to see on his face.

"I love you, Huang."
"And I love you, Pete. Good night."

In only a few short moments Pete was fast asleep. I laid on my back and closed my eyes thinking about the rest of my happy future.

~The Next Morning~

Usually, I tend to be an even earlier riser than Pete, but for some reason I felt him get up extra early today. There was a poof sound and a 'dum-da-da-daa!' which I can only assume was from the TV. I could hear Pete, I could only assume, talking to either the TV or someone on the phone before there was another large poof sound.

"Uh, Huang. I think there's someone you might wanna meet," Pete's tone sounded both surprised, excited and flustered.

"Huh?" I groggily got out of bed and put on my glasses to come face to face with my husband holding a newborn baby. "Huh?"

"Another gift from the Goddess. At least we get to skip the entire adoption process?" Pete chuckled awkwardly. I laughed awkwardly back.

"I hope the Goddess bought us a crib."

~Chapter 13 Fin~

Author's Note

Surprise chapter for my favorite bachelor Huang! Or Won in the original game. Apologies for the long, long wait, but I finally did it. I had time, motivation and energy so I just threw this chapter together really quickly and made it really wholesome.

I started this fic before the remake was announced, so this is actually the very first chapter based off the remake. I decided to capitalize by making it Huang x Pete, rather than Huang x Claire! My writing has improved immensely I feel, so I'm glad I got to use it on this pairing before any other. I got to inject lots of wholesome into it.

I do plan on going back and re-evaluating some past chapters and I'm considering reposting this story to AO3. Also, for any Pokemon fans, my current long fic Hybrid: Topaz Edition is doing amazing! Would love it if you could check it out.

Shameless plugs out of the way, I hope y'all enjoyed. The next chapter is the final special marriage candidate: Gourmet!