Maltong, the eldest son of Gukseo, who rents land from Saeum to cultivate, disapproves of Gukseo's subservient attitude towards Saeum. The second son, Gaedong, misses Kkotsoon, who was sold to Seoul, and strives in the land reclamation project, but is ostracized in the village and at home. Saeum asks Gwichan, who promised to marry Maltong, to become his concubine, and demands Gukseo to repay his debt. Gukseo tries to sell his last possession, a cow, to finalize Maltong's marriage, but Gaedong clandestinely traffics cattle, causing an uproar.