During the Spring and Autumn period (722-476 B.C.), in the city of Ying, in the State of Ch’u there lived three very lazy and idle men. They would often sit in a tavern, playing games and drinking.

    One day the three men were chatting again in a tavern. One of the men said, “It is boring to alwaya play drinking games. Today let’s play a new game!”

“O.K.!” said another. “So what should we play?”

“Let’s have a drawing contest,” answered the first man.

“How do we compete?” asked another.

“Let’s compete by drawing snakes. Whoever finishes first, gets the bottle of wine.” replied the first man.

    After discussing it, the three men asked the tavern owner for a few willow branches that have been burnt into charcoal. They then squatted down on the ground to draw. Not long after, Mr. Chang finished drawing. He stretched his hand out to take the wine but notice that beside him, Lee and Wang were still slowly drawing the heads of their snakes. They had not even started on the bodies.

    Chang thought to himself, “It will probably be dark by the time they finish drawing. There is no harm in just adding a few legs to the snake. Then they will really be convinced of defeat.” So he picked up his charcoal again and began to draw the snake’s legs.

    Shortly after, Wang finished drawing. He picked up the wine and poured it into his mouth. Chang put out his hand to stop him and said, “I finished first, how can you steal my wine?”

    Wang made a face at him, then grinning happily said,” Who told you to draw legs? When have you ever seen a snake with legs!”

    Add Legs To A Snake While Painting it- to make undesirable additions; superfluous.

(Copy from The Overseas Chinese Library, Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission.The Republic of China)