Friends Jong-seop (Lee Young-ha) and Deok-gu live by slash-and-burn farming on Mount Jiri, hoping for the day they can leave the harsh mountain life for a better future. Widower Jong-seop lives with his mother-in-law and his unmarried sister-in-law, Jeom-bok, who is waiting for the return of Jong-seop's brother to marry him. One day, Deok-gu injures his back while gathering herbs, and Jong-seop, out of loyalty to his friend, sells a portion of the ginseng he inherited from his parents—which he had left to grow—to pay for the treatment. However, upon finding Deok-gu's wife unconscious in the forest, Jong-seop commits a transgression against her. Later, while Deok-gu is away searching for Jong-seop's brother, his wife gives birth to Jong-seop's child. When a group of town doctors, hearing of the remaining ginseng, attacks Jong-seop, he gives up the rest of his harvest to save his sister-in-law. Upon his return, Deok-gu discovers the infidelity, leaves the child behind, and departs the mountain with his wife. Jeom-bok remains with Jong-seop, healing his deep emotional wounds with her love.