Russia. The end of the XIX - the beginning of the XX century. The Krasov brothers, Tikhon and Kuzma, were born in the small village of Durnovka. In their youth, they were engaged in petty trade together, then they quarreled, and their roads parted.

Kuzma went to work for hire. Tikhon took off the inn, opened a tavern and a bench, began to buy wheat and rye from the landowners, and to acquire land for nothing. Having become a fairly wealthy owner, Tikhon even bought a manor house from an impoverished descendant of the previous owners. But this did not bring him joy: his wife gave birth only to dead girls, and there was no one to leave everything that had been acquired. Tikhon did not find any consolation in the dark, dirty village life, except for the tavern. He began to drink. By the age of fifty, he realized that of the years that had passed, there was nothing to remember, not a single close person was nearby, and he himself was a stranger to everyone. Then Tikhon decides to make peace with his brother.

Kuzma is by nature a completely different person. From childhood, he dreamed of studying. A neighbor taught him to read and write, a bazaar “freethinker”, an old harmonist, supplied books and introduced to disputes about literature. Kuzma wanted to describe his life in all its poverty and terrible routine. He tried to compose a story, then set to poetry and even published a book of uncomplicated verses, but he himself understood the imperfection of his creations. Yes, and this business did not bring income, but a piece of bread was not given for nothing. Many years have passed in search of work, often fruitless. Having seen enough in his wanderings on human cruelty and indifference, he washed down, and began to sink lower and lower. In the end, Kuzma decides to either go to the monastery or commit suicide.

Here Tikhon finds him and offers to take over the management of the estate. Having settled in Durnovka, Kuzma is having fun - at last there was a quiet place for him. At night he walks with a clapper - guards the estate, reads newspapers during the day and takes notes in the old office book about what he saw and heard around.

Gradually, his longing begins to overcome: there is no one to talk to. Tikhon rarely appears, talking only about the economy, the meanness and anger of men and the need to sell the estate. The cook Avdotya, the only living creature in the house, is always silent, and when Kuzma is seriously ill, he leaves it to himself and, without any sympathy, goes to sleep in a human room.

Having recovered with difficulty, Kuzma goes to his brother. Tikhon greets the guest warmly, but there is no mutual understanding between them. Kuzma wants to share what he read from the newspapers, but Tikhon is not interested. He has long been obsessed with arranging the wedding of Avdotya with one of the village guys. He once sinned with her for the sake of his indomitable desire to have a child - even if it’s illegal. The dream did not come true, and the woman was dishonored throughout the village.

Now Tikhon, who rarely goes to church, decides to justify himself before God. He asks his brother to take care of this matter. Kuzma is against this venture: he is sorry for the unfortunate Avdotya, in whose suit Tikhon defined a real "live-bearer" who beat his own father, he was not inclined to the household and was tempted only by the promised dowry. Tikhon stands his ground, Avdotya resignedly obeys an unenviable fate, and Kuzma reluctantly yields to his brother.

Wedding play routine. The bride weeps bitterly, Kuzma blesses her with tears, the guests drink vodka and sing songs. The indefatigable February blizzard accompanies the wedding train to the dull chime of bells.