Hwang Go-bi (Kim Seung-ho), living in Mapo by the Han River in Seoul, is a miser so stingy that he cannot marry off his only daughter Geum-sook (Choi Ji-hee) due to his parsimony. Teacher Choi (Nam Gung-won) from the tent school near Hwang Go-bi's house, upon learning that the school is to be closed, pleads with Hwang Go-bi to buy the school grounds along with Geum-sook, but he remains unmoved. A bus belonging to Hwang Go-bi's transport company causes an accident that breaks the leg of Gil-soon, a student of the tent school. To avoid paying Gil-soon's medical expenses, Hwang Go-bi feigns illness and is hospitalized. However, the examination reveals that Hwang Go-bi suffers from a serious illness that threatens his life if not operated on immediately. Facing death, Hwang Go-bi realizes he has wasted his life and builds the school according to Gil-soon's wish.