This story comes from "Warring States Policy".During the Warring States Period, a minister of Chu State named Zhuang Xin said to King Xiang of Chu one day: "When you are in the palace, the Marquis of Zhou is on the left and the Marquis of Xia is on the right; It's up to you. You and these four people specialize in extravagance and lust, regardless of national affairs, Ying (Chudu, in the north of Jiangling County, Hubei Province today) must be in danger!" When King Xiang heard this, he was very displeased and scolded angrily, "Are you confused? Are you deliberately saying these sinister words to confuse people?"

Zhuang Xin replied unhurriedly: "I really feel that things must come to this point, and I dare not deliberately say that there is any misfortune for Chu State. If you keep favoring this person, Chu State will definitely perish. Since you don't believe me If so, please allow me to hide in Zhao Guo and see what happens." Zhuang Xin had only lived in Zhao State for five months. Qin State sent troops to invade Chu, and King Xiang was forced to go into exile in Yangcheng (northwest of Xixian County, Henan Province today).Only then did I feel that Zhuang Xin's words were true, so I hurriedly sent someone to find Zhuang Xin and asked him what he could do; Zhuang Xin said sincerely:

"I've heard that it's not too late to think of a hound when you see a rabbit's teeth; it's not too late to mend the sheepfold when the sheep run away..." This is a very meaningful story. I only know how to enjoy myself, but I don't know how to do things. The result is undoubtedly a tragic failure. The idiom "make up for a dead sheep" is based on the above two sentences, and expresses the meaning that if something goes wrong, it is not too late to save it quickly.For example, a businessman made a mistake in estimating the development of things, made rash advances, and fell into a situation of failure.But he was not discouraged, he patiently thought about the matter again, learned a lesson from this mistake, and thought that it was not too late to "make up for it" and start from scratch!