A carefree soldier king in the city

Chapter 491 Old Sun

The proprietress was doing her accounts when she heard someone calling her. She looked up and asked, "Who are you?"

The person in front of me seemed somewhat familiar, but I couldn't quite place them.

Chao Bufan laughed and said, "Sister Hong, it's only been a few years, how could you have forgotten me already?"

Suddenly, Sister Hong remembered something and exclaimed with delight, "Oh, you are—Stone!"

As she spoke, Sister Hong quickly put down her work and got up to stand in front of Chao Bufan.

"Uh!"

Chao Bufan was taken aback, then immediately remembered that Falcon's name before joining the Shenlong Team was Zhao Shizhu, and his nickname was Stone. He quickly scratched his head and chuckled, saying, "Sister Hong, I really didn't expect to see you here."

The woman Chao Bufan called Sister Hong was a member of the opera troupe Zhao Shizhu used to belong to. Sister Hong's husband was called Old Sun, and they were both members of the opera troupe.

"Stone, you are not a god—"

"Oh, I've come here on business."

Chao Bufan quickly interrupted Sister Hong, who understood and nodded with a smile, "Yes, I really didn't expect that we would meet again."

"Sister Hong," Chao Bufan asked, "Where's Old Sun?"

Sister Hong glanced back and said, "He's helping out in the kitchen! I'll go get him now."

With that, Sister Hong turned and left. Xiao Min and Yi Fei walked over, and Xiao Min asked, "Bu Fan, do you know the owner here?"

Chao Bufan nodded and smiled, saying, "They are all my senior brothers and sisters from when I was in the opera troupe."

"A theatrical troupe?" The two women clearly didn't understand, so Xiaomin asked, "What theatrical troupe?"

Chao Bufan smiled slightly and said, "I can't explain it clearly right now. I'll tell you later!"

"Ah, stone."

A rough, powerful voice came from the kitchen, and then a burly man appeared in front of Chao Bufan. The man hugged Chao Bufan tightly and laughed, "Haha, it really is you, kid." He then released Chao Bufan and lightly punched him, saying, "You brat, I thought I'd never see you again!"

Chao Bufan immediately felt a surge of warmth and a sense of familiarity. He quickly smiled and said, "Look who I am! By the way, Old Sun, Sister Hong, weren't you in the opera troupe? What are you doing here?"

"Sigh," Old Sun sighed, "It's a long story. Come on, let's go inside and talk."

Chao Bufan nodded, then turned to the two ladies and said, "Let's go!"

Old Sun led Chao Bufan and the others into a room. Sister Hong brought in a few bottles of drinks, placed them on the table, and said, "You guys chat slowly, I'll go out and greet the guests first."

Chao Bufan nodded and smiled, saying, "Sister Hong, you go ahead and do your work, don't worry about us. Xiaomin, go and settle the bill first."

Sister Hong laughed and said, "What accounts? Forget about them, you guys chat, I'm going out."

With that, Sister Hong turned and left, and Xiao Min quickly followed her out, probably to pay the bill.

“Old Sun,” Chao Bufan said, “weren’t you and Sister Hong doing just fine in the opera troupe? How did you end up opening a restaurant here?”

"Sigh~" Old Sun sighed, his face gloomy, and said, "Don't mention it. Ever since you left, the opera troupe has been not as good as before. Before long, the opera troupe collapsed."

"It collapsed?" Chao Bufan was slightly surprised.

“Yes, indeed—” Old Sun sighed and said, “After you left, the people in the opera troupe left and scattered, and it collapsed in no time. After your sister Hong and I left the opera troupe, the owner of this restaurant happened to be a relative of mine. He had some family troubles and needed to go back to China, so he transferred the restaurant to your sister Hong and me.”

Chao Bufan gave a wry smile and asked, "Old Sun, what about the other members of the opera troupe?"

Old Sun said, "Who knows! When we first left the opera troupe, we brothers and sisters would still keep in touch occasionally, but in recent years, we've all lost contact. By the way, Shi Tou, didn't you join the army? How did you leave?"

Chao Bufan smiled and said, "I left the army a long time ago."

"You silly child," Old Sun scolded, "why did you leave so easily! The army is so great! Others who want to join the army don't even have the chance! And you, you just leave like that."

Chao Bufan laughed and said, "There's a reason I left the army. Old Sun, you and Sister Hong have been here for quite a few years, haven't you?"

“We’ve been here for seven years,” Old Sun replied.

Chao Bufan then asked, "Do you know if there are any churches around here? Like Christian churches or something."

Old Sun nodded and said, "Yes, there is a Catholic church nearby. Why, are you going there?"

Chao Bufan nodded and said "Mm".

Old Sun shook his head and said, "Then I advise you not to go."

"Why?" Chao Bufan asked in surprise.

"I don't know what happened either. All the churches, including Catholic and Orthodox churches, are closed," Old Sun said.

"Is it closed?" Chao Bufan was slightly surprised.

Old Sun nodded and said, "They're all closed."

"When did this happen?" Chao Bufan asked.

Old Sun said, "It's been just recently."

Upon hearing this, Chao Bufan frowned and asked again, "Old Sun, do you know why?"

Old Sun shook his head and said, "I don't know, anyway, they're all closed."

Chao Bufan gave a wry smile and said, "I came all this way, only to find everything closed."

Old Sun laughed and said, "Stone, if you're here for tourism and vacation, there are plenty of fun places to visit. You don't necessarily have to go to a church."

Chao Bufan gave a bitter smile and said, "The key is, I'm not interested in other places. Old Sun, you've been here for so many years, do you have any way to get me into Catholicism or Christianity?"

Upon hearing this, Old Sun was slightly startled and asked, "Stone, tell me honestly, do you have some purpose in coming here?"

Chao Bufan nodded and smiled, then said, "To be honest, I'm here on a mission."

"A mission?" Old Sun was surprised again.

Chao Bufan smiled and said, "Old Sun, some things involve state secrets, and I cannot disclose them at this time."

Old Sun nodded and said, "I know that. Stone, I don't know anyone in those churches, but I have a friend who lives here and isn't far from me. Maybe he can help."

"Is it reliable?" Chao Bufan asked.

“Absolutely reliable,” Old Sun replied. “My friend’s family settled here many years ago, and it’s been decades now. Moreover, he has some connections and influence in this area.”

Upon hearing this, Chao Bufan nodded and then said, "Old Sun, could you please take me to meet your friend?"