The story begins with the birth of Rangel. The village teacher Sava marries a teacher Zdravka, who has arrived in the village from a big city. The father-in-law Petar Nedev, a wealthy shepherd, is worried about his daughter-in-law's ancestry and the fact that he knows nothing about her. His older son - the tailor Nedyu offers to learn something about his daughter-in-law. It turns out that she was married, but left her husband and came to the village to hide from the gossip. The old man chases the young people out of his home. Nedyu hides the truth about the slander from his daughter-in-law and begins to secretly court her, presenting himself as a holy and noble person. Their German teacher - Bela Slatinska is in love with Ivan, a young man from the village.

Dochko and Ivan are expelled, and Ivan's father loses his voice from embarrassment. Penyu Bulgurov hires his son Dochko as an apprentice at the Butcher's, while Ivan wastes his days in idleness and carrying a sack. Changes are also taking place at Mr. Nyagulov's farm. Geno Kabakov-the Argentine also lives in Yugla. At one time, he left together with Todor the American, but only reached Argentina and returned penniless, but inspired by socialist ideas.

Four years later. Yugla is declared a mayoralty. Mayor Penyu Bulgurov organizes a national celebration. The specter of the approaching war looms. Work on the farm is progressing, albeit with difficulty. Tsar Boris arrives incognito at the Eleftherovs'. Upon learning of this, the members of the communist group are angry that they missed the chance to purge him. Ivan does not stop dreaming of Bella. She is now the mistress and co-ideologist of the communist Fedya Marazov, and the two fight to establish the red agents in the city. Every night in Yugla, parties are organized to the sounds of the orchestra of the teacher Sava. While the teacher plays, his wife Zdravka comforts herself in the arms of his brother Nedyu.

Thanks to the Dolapa-irrigation wheel, Yugla becomes a village with a prosperous economy. A wagon with canned vegetables from the village leaves for Vienna, accompanied by the mayor Penyu Bulgurov and the teacher Sava. The party official Spiro Spirov, nicknamed Dumsa, arrives in Yugla for an inspection. He notes that the sabotage activity is not up to par and suggests blowing up the Dolapa. War is already raging in the world. The innkeeper dies, but the police suspect Fanny and Ivan of murder and arrest them...

While wandering through the forest, Petar Nedev discovers the haunt of the illegals Bondata and Dumsa. Michona opens a boarding house-brothel in the place of the inn. German officers often go there and use the services of the girls. Bela sleeps with German officers and extracts information from them.

The turbulent autumn of 1944.. The People's Power is established. An amnesty is declared. The biggest robber and reveler Ivan Bondov becomes the most important man in the village - the right hand of Nedyu Nedev. Daskal Sava becomes a silent witness to the brutal murder.

After many years of exile, Todor the American returns to Yugla. Collectivization is underway in Yugla. Those who do not obey declare themselves kulaks and Belene awaits them. Among them is Petar Nedev. After collectivization comes the turn of nationalization. The Bulgurovs' tavern, the Manol and Bina's cooperage, the Evrofeevs' mill are nationalized. The patriarchal spirit of Yugla is also going away with them...