A: Breaker's Bridge, by Laurence Yep, is set in China, many many years ago. The story is about a boy who is very clumsy and always breaking things. Because of this, he is given the name Breaker. But Breaker is also very clever and is very good at building bridges. When the Emperor hears of Breaker's skill in building bridges, he sends for Breaker and commands him to build a bridge across a deep gorge with a raging river at the bottom of it. If Breaker is successful, he will earn his weight in gold. If he fails, however, the Emperor will cut off his head.

B: Breaker tries to build the bridge but each time the water is too strong and sweeps away the half-finished bridge. Then one evening, on his way home after another unsuccessful attempt to build the bridge, Breaker meets an old man. The old man is far from home and cannot walk very well because his crutch is broken. Breaker feels sorry for the old man and offers to make him a new crutch. It takes him a long time to do so because he is so clumsy. He keeps dropping his knife or cutting his fingers. Finally he finishes the crutch and gives it to the old man. In return, the old man gives him two pellets and tells Breaker to throw them in the water where he wants the piers of the bridge to be.

C: Breaker is frightened by the old man but takes the pellets and next day he rows out to the middle of the river and throws in one of the pellets. To his surprise he sees a pier rising up stone by stone until it reaches the top of the gorge. Just as Breaker is going to throw in the second pellet, it breaks in his hand. He throws in the dust but nothing happens. He decides that he can finish the rest of the bridge by himself and he is finally successful. The Emperor is happy and gives Breaker his gold reward. Next spring, however, when the snows are melting, the bridge is carried away by the raging water again. The Emperor calls for Breaker but before Breaker can say anything, the old man appears. Breaker notices everyone - including the Emperor - kneeling down before the old man, and realises that the old man is one of the immortals. The Emperor spares Breaker's life and Breaker goes on to build many more bridges.