English Original
During the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), the State of Chu was not very powerful. Its king and key officials were dissolute and incompetent, indulging in luxury and pleasure. Minister Zhuang Xin foresaw the danger and remonstrated with the king: "Your Majesty, you are surrounded by flatterers who distract you from state affairs. If this continues, the country will surely perish."
The King of Chu flew into a rage, accusing Zhuang Xin of cursing the state and stirring resentment. Zhuang Xin explained he had a premonition of great danger. Seeing the king's trust in corrupt officials, Zhuang Xin believed Chu was doomed and requested leave to go to the State of Zhao. The king agreed.
Five months later, the State of Qin invaded and occupied a large tract of Chu's territory, forcing the king into exile. Remembering Zhuang Xin's words, the king summoned him back and asked, "What can I do now?"
Zhuang Xin replied, "It's not too late to mend the sheepfold after a sheep is lost." He then offered suggestions to rehabilitate the state and recover the lost land, which pleased the king greatly.
The idiom "Mend the fold after a sheep is lost" originates from this story. We still use this metaphor to advise that even after a mistake and loss, one can still remedy the situation by learning from it.
中文翻译
战国时期（公元前475-221年），楚国并不强大。国王和重要官员放荡无能，沉溺于奢侈享乐。大臣庄辛预见到国家危在旦夕，便劝谏国王："陛下，您无论到哪里，总被阿谀奉承之人包围。他们想尽办法让您开心，使您忘了处理国事。长此以往，国家迟早会毁灭。"
楚王勃然大怒："你竟敢用如此恶毒的话诅咒我的国家，意在激起民愤！"庄辛解释道："我不敢诅咒楚国，但我确实有预感，楚国正面临巨大危险。"看到国王特别宠信那些腐败的官员并对他们言听计从，庄辛认为楚国注定要灭亡，于是请求国王允许他离开楚国，他打算去赵国待一段时间。国王准了他的请求。
五个月后，秦王派兵入侵楚国，占领了大片领土。楚王被迫流亡。此时，国王想起了庄辛的话，派人将他请回。再次见到庄辛时，国王问道："我现在该怎么办？"
庄辛回答："发现羊丢了，再去修补羊圈，为时未晚。"随后，他提出了一些复兴国家、收复失地的良策，国王非常高兴。
成语"亡羊补牢"便源自庄辛对国王的回答。我们至今仍用这个比喻来劝诫他人：即使犯了错、受了损失，只要从中吸取教训，仍可补救。