"That was a long, long time ago. Your grandfather, Old Took, was an extraordinary adventurer…"
Gandalf smiled as he told Bilbo the story of his grandfather. According to the old wizard, Old Took was an extremely adventurous Hobbit who had not only traveled all over Middle-earth but was also good friends with Elrond, the Elven King residing in Rivendell.
"And your mother, Belladonna Baggins, also inherited your grandfather's adventurous spirit, having left the Shire to travel many times…" At this point, Gandalf looked deeply at Bilbo and said, "So, as far as I know, the Baggins family is different from other Hobbits; your blood is full of adventurous genes."
"This makes every generation of Baggins uneasy with the status quo, yearning to go to the outside world."
Bilbo's elders venturing out not only brought back a considerable amount of wealth for the Baggins family but also quite a few books from the outside world.
Having read these books since childhood, Bilbo unconsciously became curious about the outside world.
After hearing the old wizard's description of the Baggins family, Bilbo couldn't help but nod.
It was at this moment, seeing that the time was right, that Gandalf suddenly said, "Didn't you ask me earlier what my purpose was in coming to see you this time?"
"That is, I am preparing to form an adventure team to the Lonely Mountain, and the team is now missing a nimble 'scout'. I think you're very suitable for this role. What do you think?"
"Adventure team?? No, no, no, I think you've got it wrong, I don't want to leave Hobbiton, this is my home…" Bilbo was startled by the old wizard's sudden change of topic and tried his best to explain, "I am just an ordinary Hobbit, we love our homes."
"I am familiar with every inch of this land, the hills, the grass, even the bright sunshine… So, I will not leave my home to join your adventure team…"
Bilbo's current situation can be described as a case of 'Lord Ye's love for dragons'; although he yearned for the exciting outside world, his first reaction was to resist when truly asked to leave his comfortable little nest.
"You have one day to prepare. Afterward, I will bring the other members of the adventure team to meet you; I believe you will get along well with them." Gandalf settled the matter irrevocably, then got up and walked out, preparing to meet the Dwarf team coming from Grey Lane.
"Prepare for what? I didn't agree to your invitation…" Bilbo also anxiously got up and chased after the old wizard, wanting to clarify things.
Then he heard a "bang" as the old wizard, walking ahead with his attention diverted, bumped his head on the low doorway at the entrance of the house.
It was a loud sound, enough to prove that Gandalf's head was a good one.
So much so that Mike, sitting behind him, felt the house shake.
"Oh, sorry." Bilbo was also startled by the old wizard's movement. Seeing him clutching his forehead in pain, he quickly apologized, "My house might not be ready to receive outsiders yet…"
Well, the Hobbit might still be resentful of the old wizard's intrusion and self-assertion.
"Or perhaps it's been too long since I last visited," Gandalf rubbed his forehead, then subtly hinted again that he was good friends with Gandalf's grandfather.
Then he looked at the conflicted Hobbit in front of him and said, "The first step out of your comfort zone is always so difficult, but I want to tell you that the outside world is not as scary as you think. I believe Old Took's descendant has this courage…"
After speaking, Gandalf ignored Bilbo and walked out of the small house alone, then turned back to Mike, who was still sitting in the dining room, and asked, "Aren't you planning to come with me to meet the other members of the adventure team in advance?"
For the old wizard, bringing Mike, who possessed mysterious powers, into the adventure team was an unexpected gain.
However, he also saw that the other party seemed to have his own thoughts and was still considering whether to join the team.
"No, I didn't rest well last night. I plan to stay here and wait for you to come back." Mike shook his head and did not get up.
"Alright." Gandalf did not insist, glanced at Mike again, then turned and left.
…
"Adventure? Me?? That's ridiculous… Hobbits don't like adventure…"
It wasn't until the old wizard left that Bilbo seemed to awaken from his inner struggle.
Coming to his senses, his first action was to close the front door, as if there were floods and beasts outside.
Only by hiding in his cozy little house could he feel safe.
"He's forcing me…" After a long while, even after Bilbo returned to the dining room, he was still muttering, which shows how much of an impact going on an adventure had on a Hobbit.
Then, Bilbo saw Mike, who was calmly staying in the dining room, and again apologized in a hurry, "Sorry, I wasn't talking about you."
Everything that happened today had already made this Hobbit lose his composure.
"It's okay," Mike said with a smile, "I understand how you feel, and I've actually only known Gandalf for less than a day."
The most effective way to break down barriers is to find a common "enemy."
Mike knew the plot, so he also felt that the old wizard's method of forcibly recruiting people was a bit blunt and also a bit excessive.
"If all outsiders were like you, then perhaps going on an adventure wouldn't be so scary…" Mike's gentle demeanor made Bilbo, the Hobbit, feel very comfortable.
Therefore, he unconsciously developed a better impression of him.
The most crucial thing was that compared to the "forceful" Gandalf, Mike's personality could indeed be considered "gentle."
"When you're feeling down, eating something sweet will help you." Mike, seeing that the Hobbit in front of him was incredibly conflicted, took out a large cake from his storage space and handed it to him.
"Cool, is this magic?" Bilbo, who was still conflicted, was attracted by Mike's "creation from nothing" ability.
"Try it, you should like it." Mike smiled and didn't explain too much.
At the same time, in the yard outside the house, Gandalf, mounted on his black steed, left a glowing mark on the gate with his magic staff before leaving, guiding the Dwarves who would arrive later.
…
"This kind of life is a wonderful life, why would anyone like adventure?"
At noon, basking in the warm sun, Bilbo moved two lounge chairs into the yard and enjoyed the afternoon with Mike.
To thank Mike for the cake, Bilbo also took out his treasured handmade pipe tobacco, specially making two pipes to share with Mike.
Warm sun… lounge chairs… pipe…
Coupled with the wealth brought back by the Baggins family elders from their adventures, it was enough for Bilbo to live comfortably and prosperously until old age without doing anything.
So enjoying life was the entirety of Bilbo's life.
How could such a wonderful life not make one addicted?
"Can you tell me what life is like outside? And what kind of person is Mr. Gandalf?" Bilbo suddenly asked.
Just as Gandalf said, the spirit of adventure flowed in the Baggins family's blood.
It was like a small stone, unconsciously stirring up ripples in Bilbo's calm life.
Even though he himself hadn't realized it.