There was once a landlord¹ who always pretended he was knowledgeable² though he was completely unable to read or write.

从前，有一个地主是个既不会读也不会写的文盲，但他却偏要在人前装作很有学问。

One day when the landlord was chatting with his guests, a servant came in and gave him a letter which asked him to lend a cow. The landlord was afraid that his guests would know he was unable to read or write, so he opened the envelope and glanced over the words. Then he said to the servant, "OK, please tell him I’11 go there myself in a few minutes.”

一天，当地主正和宾客聊天的时候，仆人走进来递给他一封信，信上请他出借一头牛。地主害怕被客人知道自己是个文盲，于是他打开信封，瞧了瞧信上的字，然后对仆人说:“好的，你告诉他我等一下自己过去。”