"I can't even write my own name, so how can I sign?"
Upon hearing this, the fat man was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a helpless smile, realizing he had overthought it.
It wasn't that the young man was unwilling to sell or hesitant to sell to him; rather, the boy couldn't read or write.
In other words, the young man couldn't recognize his own name nor write it, which meant he couldn't read what was written on the deed, nor sign his name on it, highlighting their lack of education.
This left the fat man momentarily at a loss for words, but he quickly came to terms with it, as it was common.
Nowadays, literate citizens were exceedingly rare, not just among common folk; even the aristocratic families had many who were illiterate.
Because of this, upon hearing those words, the fat man resignedly shook his head, acknowledging he had overestimated the young man, for his status was merely that of a poor commoner.
