The story takes place from 1929 to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The daughter of a wealthy village miller, Tatiana, meets Nikolai, the son of a kulak from a neighboring village. They are attracted to each other, but matchmakers from Vasily are already rushing to Tatiana. The girl's heart is occupied with thoughts of Nikolai, and she refuses the godson of the village chairman. Nikolai and Tatiana decide to be together, and the bride's parents, Pavel and Marfa, bless this union. It seems that there will be no end to the happiness of the young. But the surplus is rampant in the country, and Vasily has been assigned to answer for the withdrawal of surpluses from the peasants. And the first thing the offended groom hurries to the Kozlov house, where married Tatiana now lives.
