This fable mocks those who rigidly follow rules instead of using common sense.
Gǔ shíhou yǒu gè Zhèngguó rén xiǎng mǎi yì shuāng xié
古时候Gǔ shíhou🔊，有个yǒu gè🔊郑国人Zhèngguó rén🔊想xiǎng🔊买mǎi🔊一双yì shuāng🔊鞋xié🔊。
Tā xiān yòng shéngzi liáng hǎo le zìjǐ jiǎo de chǐcùn
他Tā🔊先xiān🔊用yòng🔊绳子shéngzi🔊量好了liáng hǎo le🔊自己zìjǐ🔊脚的jiǎo de🔊尺寸chǐcùn🔊。
Dào le jíshì tā cái fāxiàn wàng le dài liáng hǎo de chǐcùn
到了Dào le🔊集市jíshì🔊，他tā🔊才发现cái fāxiàn🔊忘了带wàng le dài🔊量好的liáng hǎo de🔊尺寸chǐcùn🔊。
Tā gǎnjǐn pǎo huí jiā qù ná
他Tā🔊赶紧gǎnjǐn🔊跑回家pǎo huí jiā🔊去拿qù ná🔊。
Děng tā huídào jíshì jíshì yǐjīng sàn le
等他Děng tā🔊回到huídào🔊集市jíshì🔊，集市jíshì🔊已经yǐjīng🔊散了sàn le🔊。
Yǒu rén wèn tā nǐ wèishénme bù yòng zìjǐ de jiǎo qù shì xié ne
有人Yǒu rén🔊问他wèn tā🔊：你nǐ🔊为什么wèishénme🔊不bù🔊用yòng🔊自己的zìjǐ de🔊脚jiǎo🔊去qù🔊试鞋呢shì xié ne🔊？
Tā shuō wǒ nìngkě xiāngxìn liáng hǎo de chǐcùn yě bù xiāngxìn zìjǐ de jiǎo
他说Tā shuō🔊：我wǒ🔊宁可nìngkě🔊相信xiāngxìn🔊量好的liáng hǎo de🔊尺寸chǐcùn🔊，也不相信yě bù xiāngxìn🔊自己的zìjǐ de🔊脚jiǎo🔊。
English Translation:
In ancient times, a man from the state of Zheng wanted to buy a pair of shoes. He first measured his feet with a string. When he arrived at the market, he realized he had forgotten the measurement. He hurried home to get it. By the time he returned, the market had closed. Someone asked him: "Why didn't you try the shoes with your own feet?" He said: "I'd rather trust the measurement than my own feet."