Old Jordan Gerak, the head of a large peasant family, still strives to maintain a close-knit family, good relations and mutual love in the house. He is a hardworking, warm—hearted and cheerful man. But unbeknownst to himself, he is drawn into the whirlpool of hoarding: he keeps a tavern, saves and hides money, exploits the labor of workers. The passion for profit, like a terrible disease, infects the souls of his sons and family relationships crumble...