Ivan learned the basics from his parents and learned the more complicated writing from a book of letters and numbers they happened to find on the road when delivering goods when he was five.
It was what inspired him to learn. He read the book over and over again until he memorized all of it. He even taught his parents and their workers about what he learned from the book.
Seeing how Ivan could learn quickly, their neighbors who heard he even taught their workers recommended that his parents ask permission for him to be able to enter the library.
It was granted and thus, instead of helping on the farm, Ivan always borrowed books to read. He used to stay in the library and read as long as he could without eating but he was banned by the librarian because he passed out one time.
Ivan stayed home to read where people could see him and make him eat during mealtimes.
