传说很早以前，山西酒行每年要举行一次酒会。逢酒会这天，大小酒坊的老板都把自己作坊里当年酿造的新酒抬一坛到会上，由酒会会长主持，让众人品尝，排列出名次来。
当时有家酒坊，虽说是祖传几代的老作坊，可年年酿出的酒总不见有多少起色，每逢酒会评比，总是名落孙山。


这一年，又要开酒会了，老板只好吩咐两个小伙计备好一坛新酒抬去应付。老板自己先走一步，让伙计们随后就来。这两个送酒的伙计早就摸透了老板的心思，知道自家酒不好，不愿早送到会上露丑现眼，所以，直磨蹭到日起三竿，才抬上酒坛子出门上路。


这天天气特别热，头顶上的太阳像一团火，两个伙计抬着一坛酒，走着，走着，那汗水就从头发梢淌到脚趾尖了。伙计俩走得又热又渴，赶到正晌，恰巧来到一片竹林子边，一商量，决定先把担子放在竹林里凉快凉快，找户人家喝口水再说。两人放好酒坛子，前坡转，后坡找，唉!这前不靠村，后不着店的地方，别说找个人家，就是找条小河沟喝口水也难呀!


伙计俩回到竹林里，四只眼睛都落在酒坛子上，找不到水，就喝口酒吧！可是一掀开坛盖，又犯愁了：满满一坛子酒，没勺没瓢，捧不起，放不下，咋喝法呀？


“嘿!有了！”小伙计眼睛一亮，顺手从一株成竹上扯了两片大竹叶，说：“咱俩捻个竹叶杯吧！”

说着，把竹叶捻成了两个小酒杯，就你一杯、我一盅地喝起来了。


做酒人喝酒，那可真像喝水。这伙计俩不知不觉就喝去了小半坛。喝完酒，汗消了，嗓子眼也不冒烟了，可望望坛里的酒，这伙计俩傻眼了：只剩下半坛儿酒，怎么去交差呢？还是年长的伙计有心机：“我说兄弟，咱哥俩还是抬着赶路吧，反正咱家酒不好，等走到有水的地方，掺上点水，你不言，我不语，混过去就是了。”


小伙计一听也是理，便和年长的伙计抬起坛子就走。走不多远，只见一丛翠绿翠绿的大青竹，竹丛旁边有几块大石头，石头缝里渗出一滴一滴的清水，滴滴落在石根底下一个巴掌大小的水湾湾里。这伙计俩像遇到救命泉一样，赶紧把酒坛子放下，又摘了两片竹叶捻成杯，蹲在小水湾边，你一下，我一下，往坛子里加水。说也奇怪，别看这小水湾湾只有巴掌大，可是不管他俩怎么舀，湾里的水总不见少，不一会，就把坛子灌满了，他们又趁便喝了几口，觉得这泉水又凉又甜。两个人看看时候不早了，急忙抬起酒坛子上路。


再说在酒会上，酒会会长和各家酒坊老板传杯换盏，品尝一家一家的新酒。眼看快要品尝完了，才见这伙计俩满头大汗地抬着坛子走进会场，老板亲自揭开坛盖，舀了一碗酒，恭恭敬敬地捧到酒会会长面前。


酒会会长端起碗，看着老板笑了笑说：“好戏压轴，好酒封顶，今天酒会最后得尝尝贵老板的这碗酒了，想必是独占鳌头喽!”说完哈哈一阵大笑，满座的酒老板也随着嘻笑了一番。


老板明知大家在打趣他，也只得红着脸说：“惭愧，惭愧，水酒村醪，还望诸位赏光指教。”酒会会长又哈哈一笑：“哎，哪里，哪里，我先领教了。”边说边把酒碗凑到嘴边，轻轻喝了一口。


“晤？”酒会会长吧嗒吧塔嘴，看了看酒老板，又瞅了瞅碗里的酒，半晌才对众家酒坊老板说；“来来来，大家都尝尝!”这碗酒在众老板手中传来传去，只见这个尝了一口伸伸舌头，那个尝了一口瞪瞪眼睛，谁也没敢吱声。伙计俩看了，怕露馅，吓得直往后退。老板看着这个场面，不知出了什么事，心里发毛，身子哆嗦起来，赶紧朝坛里一瞧，这才发觉酒色绿晶晶，青澄澄，还有一股说不出的浓味儿直冲鼻子眼哩!他战战兢兢地舀了半碗，自己尝了一口。不由得呆住了：呵！这是我家的酒吗?
老板还没弄清是怎么回事，只见酒会会长站起身，朝会场里巡视了一眼，问道：“诸位，这碗酒如何呀？”


“好酒，好酒！”会场像开锅水一样沸腾起来。


酒会会长笑吟吟地离席来到老板面前，说：“恭禧，恭禧啦!老兄一鸣惊人，酿出这般琼浆玉液，该当众传传匠艺罗!”


老板如在梦中，只得说：“不敢，不敢，初试小技，偶得新酿，且容来岁会上见教吧!”


“好!祝老兄明年更上一层楼!”酒会会长一高兴，转身吩咐道：“来呀，开宴畅饮，同贺今岁佳品!”说着，把老板让到上座。一时间，席上山珍海味，大家举杯碰盏，把这坛酒喝了个底朝天。不用细说，这年酒会上，这伙计俩送去的酒，名列第一！


在回酒坊的路上，伙计俩一高兴，便把酒坛里加泉水的事，一五一十地全对老板说了。老板听完，拿出二十吊铜钱，对他们说：“这件事你们再也别对人乱说啦。来，天热送酒，一路辛苦，这几吊钱你们拿去买茶喝吧！”伙计俩因祸得福，自然喜出望外。


第二天，老板又叫他们引路，亲自去看过他们歇脚的那片竹林子，又亲口尝了尝那湾泉水，知道酿出这样的好酒，与这又清又甜的泉水是分不开的。于是，他就买下了那块地皮，将酒坊迁去，在那小水湾上打了一眼井，又从酿造技艺上努力改进，终于酿出了别有色味、名驰中外的好酒，取名叫“竹叶青”酒。

It is said that the annual liquor fair would be held by Shanxi Liquor Guild once upon a time. On the fair hosted by the president of the Liquor Guild, each boss of liquor workshop in the town would present a jug of newly brewed liquor of that year for public to taste and then a quality rank would be listed by the result.


At that time, there was one liquor workshop. Although it was an old workshop handed down for several generations, liquor brewed each year could not see any improvement. On annual liquor appraising fair, it always failed in a competitive examination.


One year, the liquor fair was approaching. The boss told two fellows to prepare a jug of newly brewed liquor for the fair. The boss himself left in advance, and he told the fellows to follow later. They knew clearly what their boss was thinking and their liquor didn't brew very well. So they would not like to lose face on the fair with early carrying. Consequently, they dillydallied until the sun was well up; they carried the jug on their way the fair.


It was very hot that day. The sun was just like a ball of fire shining above their head. The two fellows carried a jug of liquor walking towards the fair. As they walked, sweat dripped from their hair to toes. They felt very hot and thirsty. And it was noontime that they happened coming to an area of bamboo forest. After discussing, they made decision to have a rest in this bamboo forest and find a house to drink some water and then continued walking. They put away the liquor jug, and began to find the house here and there. But in such a deserted place they could not find any house even less a river.


Finally, they came back to the bamboo forest. Their two pairs of eyes all stared at the jug. They thought now that there was no water; let's drank a mouth of liquor! When they removed the cover of the jug, however, they had a difficult problem. Facing a full jug of liquor how can they drink it without spoon?
"Hi, I have an idea!" the younger fellow with a bright eyes pulled down two pieces of leaves from a mature bamboo conveniently and said, let us twist a cup with these. Thereupon, he twisted two cups while speaking. After that, they drank one cup after another.


As for the winemaker, they drank just like drinking water. Unconsciously, they had drunk nearly half jug of liquor. Sweat had gone, and their throats had moistened. But when they looked at the jug, they were all dumbfounded. Because only half jug of liquor was left, they wondered how did they go to account for it? Here, the elder fellow got an idea and said, "Brother, we still carry the jug on our walking. Anyway, our liquor does not taste good. So when we walk to a place where there has water, we add some water into the jug. That is ok. I think we can get by under false pretence as long as we keep this secret."


Hearing that, the younger also agreed to it. Therefore, they continued walking on their way. After few miles, an area of emerald big green bamboo emerged in their eyes. There were few blocks of big stones beside the clump of bamboo. The clear water exuded from the stone gap and dropped into a water bay which is as small as a palm. On seeing the water, they looked like finding the savior and put down the jug quickly. At the same time, they also used two pieces of bamboo leaves twisting two cups and squatted beside the water bay, then added water one cup after another. It is very surprise, in such a small water bay, no matter how many cups they spooned, the water still seemed no any reducing. After a while, the jug was full. Taking advantage of this occasion they drank a few cups as well. The water tasted cool and sweet. But it was time to go, so they carried the jug on their way.


On the fair, the president was tasting different liquors with other workshops' bosses. When the fair was near the end, two fellows who carried the liquor jug with heads of sweat arrived. Their boss removed the cover personally and spooned a bowl of liquor and then present to the president respectfully.
Holding the bowl of liquor, the president told the boss with a smile, "The best spirit shows at the end as the same as the best play. Today, tasting your liquor at the end of fair, it must be the champion." Then he laughed a hearty laugh with other bosses.


The boss clearly knew everybody made fun of him, so with his face turning red he said, " Shamed, shamed, please kindly give me all of your advice." The president laughed and said, " No, no, let's taste it first." Then, he took a sip.
"Oh?" the present looked at the boss and saw the bowl of liquor. After a while, he said to others, "Come, taste it!" Thereupon, this bowl of liquor passed among other bosses. Someone showed his tongue and someone opened eyes after tasting. But nobody uttered a word. The two fellows were, however, all worried about being detected so that they saw each other and back a few steps. Seeing this occasion, the boss began to bewilder and shiver, because he didn't know what happened. He glimpsed the jug quickly and found the liquid looked green and clear, which had a sort of ineffable smell rushing his nose and eyes. He spooned half bowl of liquor with fear and trepidation and tasted it. Then he was astonished, "Oh, does that make by my workshop?


As the boss was confusing, the president stood up and cast his eyes around the fair and asked, "Gentlemen, what do you think about this bowl of liquor?
"Good wine, good wine!" at the moment, the fair just like the boiling water became ebullient.


Leaving his seat, the president with a smiling came to the front of the boss and said, " Congratulation! You make a great coup. Making such fine spirit, you should tell us your favorite techniques on making this liquor at here."
The boss felt as if in a dream and had to say, "No, no, it is just my preliminary trying. It is coincident getting this technique. I will show you next fair."
"Ok, we hope you make more progress next year!" the president turned and enjoined, " Let's carouse and congratulate the excellent product!" Then he made the boss seat of honor. For an instant, delicious food was offered on the banquet and people were all enjoying and they bottomed up the whole jug liquor at last. It went without saying, the liquor that the two fellows carried on the fair ranked No.1 on this fair.


On the way to workshop, the two fellows felt very happy, and then they told the cause and effect to their boss totally. After hearing that, the boss took out twenty copper cashes and said, " Don't mention this event to anyone. Well, you two took a lot of trouble for sending liquor in such hot weather. Taking these cashes to drink some tea!" Two fellows were overjoyed for deriving gain from misfortune.
On the following day, their boss asked them as the guide to see that bamboo forest at where they had a rest. When they arrived there, the boss tasted the water from the bay personally. Then, he knew that this clear and sweet water must have relation with making such fine spirit. Therefore, he bought the area of bay and transferred his workshop to there. After that, he dug a well at there, and improved winemaking technique. Eventually, he brewed fine wine named Zhuyeqing, which had a kind of special flavor and famous at home and abroad.