Peasant Miron chopping wood in the woods near the village of Victor nobleman, reflects on the difficulties of the peasant share and indulges in dreams of the "sweets" of the noble life, when "they lay on the stove and ate kalach". Peacefully recalls recent events when he and his wife planted a child and a hundred rubles. He quickly “exorcised” the money, and the girl was raised and named Anna. She is like a daughter to her and his wife, and to the joy of Miron, their laborer Filat wants to marry her, because the peasant “has more children, more people, and with them stubble and beer.”
Appeared Filat talks about the gathering at which he was on the trip of the headman to the city and collecting money for him to add. Money (five rubles), according to the headman, is needed for christening for the clerk whose wife gives birth. Filat is indignant at collecting money to the clerk, who are growing in Russia more and more, and peasant life is getting worse and fewer workers. Then he asks Miron to give him a daughter, promising to be forever a worker with him. Miron joyfully agrees and sings a song in which he contrasts peasant fidelity with the word of rogue citizens who are seduced only by wealth and who cannot be relied on.
Annie, the adopted daughter of Miron, singing a sad song, calls him to his mother. Miron reassures her, suggesting that her mother wants to discuss her marriage. He leaves Filat and Anyuta to clean firewood, noting that peasant life, although difficult, is better than urban, where everyone needs to bow.
Filat, folding firewood, affectionately asks Anyuta about her sadness, confesses her love and desire to marry her. Annie is full of indignation and calls him "a little fool, a fool, a freak." Filat, who did not expect such a rebuff, scolds her, threatens to walk along the ribs with a club in the future and announces his father’s consent to marry. Annie is even more angry and insults him in every possible way. Filat grumbles and leaves.
The overlooked Annie is angry with her parents and yearns for her lover - Victor. Seeing Victor, Anyuta rushes to him with a cry, admits that her parents want to marry her to Filat. Victor assures Annie that this marriage will kill him, she also promises to "interrupt life." Victor threatens to kill Filat, but Anna asks not to touch him, but only to free him from his power. Victor promises her this, since he owns half of the village, and the other half is given to him in obedience, and invites Anyuta to his home. Annie protests him, fearing to be glorified in the eyes of the whole village.
Victor suggests tomorrow to go to the neighboring village and return from there husband and wife. Annie does not believe in the possibility of such an outcome, since there is no paternal will on this. Victor reproaches her for lack of self-love, however, Anyuta hotly assures her of her loyalty to him. Victor kisses her hand and asks to go to his house.
Appearing Filat sees how they kiss, and pounces on Anyuta with abuse. Victor stands up for her and promises to “knock down” Filat’s head. Between them, a lengthy bickering flared up, in which Victor threatened with all kinds of punishments, and Filat did not shame him with "noble" behavior. Finally, Filat, assuring Victor that the peasants also can stand up for themselves, leaves.
Anyuta is afraid that Filat will tell everything to her father, who will punish her and force her to marry the unloved. Victor kisses her hand and swears that he will figure out how to ward off the trouble. To this end, he is going to give so much money to Anyuta’s father to hire “fifty farm laborers”. Lovers part with the hope of a successful outcome.
Miron throws reproaches on Anyuta, accusing her of disobeying her parental will, of shaming her neighbors, and insisting on an immediate wedding with Filat. Annie, referring to Filat’s reservation, denies everything and resolutely refuses marriage to Filat. Miron promises to take a good club and break off all her ribs and back. Despite the threats, Anyuta is ready to die, but not change her mind.
Appearing Victor assures Anyuta that she is now free, since she is the daughter of Colonel Tsvetkov and a noblewoman. He tells her story. The colonel was driven by enemies and should not have met his beloved wife. To hide his wife’s visit, he instructs the faithful servant to throw her daughter to the peasant. Enemies dispersed over time, the colonel regained his fortune and returned yesterday to his village, which is adjacent to the village of Victor.
The colonel turned to Victor with a request to bring his daughter to him, since he himself was unwell. He sent Miron a thank you purse with money. Everyone rejoices, and Victor also gives money to the offended farm laborer Filat, who rushes to his knees with joy and praises Victor in every possible way. Victor and Anyuta go to her father.
In conclusion, all the participants and the choir are singing moralizing monologues. In the monologue of the choir, the couplet is repeated: “He is the happiest of all in the world / Who is satisfied with his part”
