The middle of the XIX century. Privilege, rich in forests and artisans, is the Upper Volga region. They live here in labor and prosperity, professing the old faith. There are a lot of men who have fallen into merchants who are called thousand-strongers.
One of such wealthy thousandths Patap Maksimych Chapurin lives beyond the Volga in the village of Osipovka. Chapurin conducts his affairs honestly, and for that he is respected and respected by everyone.
The Chapurinsky family is small. Wife Aksinya Zakharovna and two daughters: the eldest, eighteen-year-old Nastya, the father of the darling, and Praskovya, a year younger. The daughters had just returned to their parents ’home from the Komarov monastery, where the mother Superior Manef, the sister of Patap Maximych, was the abbess,
Chapurin has another god-given daughter, the orphan Grunya raised by him, but she is already married to a rich merchant and lives in another village.
Chapurin returns from a successful business trip sometimes in winter, rejoices at meeting with his family, gives them gifts.
Left alone after dinner with his wife, Patap Maksimych announces to her that the other day dear guests will come - a wealthy merchant Snezhkov with his son, for whom Chapurin read to give to Nastya. For him, this marriage is honorable and profitable.
Tryphon Shaggy has three sons and two girls. The most successful of the children is the elder, handsome and the first turner, Alexei. Tryphon kept the turner, and everything would be fine, but the peasant fell into misfortune - at first a fire, and then unknown villains robbed him completely. Lokhmatom had to give two sons to people for work. Alex got to Chapurin.
Chapurin earnestly fell in love with the new employee for his modesty, diligence and craftsmanship. He intends to make him a clerk, who will dispose of everyone else, but has not yet announced his intentions.
On the name day of Aksinyya Zakharovna, Manef’s mother comes, accompanied by two young novices. One of them, lively Flenushka, pokes out the girlfriend’s heartfelt secret - Nastya confesses her love to Alexei.
Discussing with family at home how best to arrange for the reception of guests, Patap Maksimych asks Nastya what she thinks about marriage, he already has a bridegroom in store for her.
Nastya at first tearfully asks her father not to pass her off as unloved, and having received a refusal, she firmly states that in this case she will accept monasticism.
A quick and agile Flenushka brings Nastya with Alexei. At the very first meeting, Nastya “looked passionately into the sweetheart's eyes and threw herself on his chest ...”.
Agrafena Petrovna (Grunya) also arrives to see these parents and congratulate Aksinya Zakharovna on the day of the angel.
All new guests come, including Yakim Prokhorich Stukolov, a longtime acquaintance of Chapurin; he wandered around the world for more than a quarter of a century. Together with Stukolov, a merchant from the city of Dyukov is also holding on.
Stukolov tells the audience about his wanderings, hints that he is the messenger of the Old Believer Belokrinitsky bishop, but here he is busy with non-church affairs. He has information about the deposits in the Trans-Volga forests of “earth oil” (gold) and is looking for companions to mine it.
This conversation is heard by Alexei, and his eyes light up when he thinks of a possible enrichment soon.
The ensuing conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the father and son of the Snezhkovs. The elder Snezhkov is confident - he is richer and more noble than everyone here - and boasts free manners of the Moscow merchants. Chapurin and his guests this story throws into embarrassment.
Nastya immediately guesses about her father’s intentions and whispers to Flenushka: “Do not be a matchmaker.”
Nearly before midnight the guests feasted, finally dispersed into the rooms, but not all fell asleep. Manef’s mother does not sleep, shocked by the meeting with a man whom she had long considered dead. She had a sin in her youth, she gave birth to a daughter from Stukolov. The wanderers sheltered the child, and in return took from the sinner the promise "to accept the angelic image of monasticism." And although her father eventually agreed to her marriage with Stukolov, the girl did not dare to break the oath given to the Lord.
Over the years, she became famous for her pilgrimage and ability to manage all church affairs. The girl who was brought up in the village, Manef’s mother took as a novice, and no one knew that Flenushka was her own daughter.
Having rejected Snezhkov, who was much offended by such an unexpected turn of the matter, Patap Maksimych returns to talking with Stukolov about gold. The wanderer explains: although the local veteran mines are even richer than Siberian ones, it will take at least fifty thousand to get gold. But then they will turn into five, if not ten millions.
Chapurin is cautious, he is not happy that half of the profits will be given to Bishop Sofroniy, who owns the placer map.
In the end, they nevertheless agree, having decided to keep the whole enterprise secret. Chapurin decides to go to Vetluga himself, to figure out what's what on the spot.
Proud dreams of future wealth take possession of Patap Maksimych, he thinks about his daughter, and wonders who could become her a worthy husband. “And Alex came to his mind. If Nastya knew and knew that she had flashed in the head of her parent, she would not have cried at night ... ”
Chapurin rode out on two sleighs with Stukolov and Dyukov. On the eve of the lion's day, February 18, they went astray.
Then they were lucky - they came across an artel of lumberjacks who brought them to the right direction. While traveling, Chapurin asked the guides about the local places if there was any gold anywhere. The forester replied that he had heard of gold on Vetlug, but he did not know where it was located. Pretending to be sleeping, Stukolov listens to the conversation, this rumor in his hand.
Chapurin decides to inquire with his good friend, mountain official Kolyshkin. Stukolov, on the other hand, proposes to call on Father Mikhail, the abbot of the Krasnoyarsk monastery, who also participates in the search for gold, and secretly informs the abbot of his arrival.
They met them in the monastery with such honor and cordiality that Patap Maksimych was immediately imbued with a disposition towards his father, Michael, who was hefty, like he had been cut from a seasoned oak.
Cautious Chapurin for fidelity is still going to visit Kolyshkin. Stukolov and Dyukov are forced to replace the false gold sand given to him with real, so that the specialist would not catch them in a scam. The wanderer is also trying to sell fake bank notes established in the monastery, and Father Mikhail complains that the business is dangerous and not so profitable.
Retired mountain official Sergei Andreich Kolyshkin immediately explains to Chapurin that the venerable merchant is involved in a scam. He also informs of their common acquaintance, who, flattering by fabulous profits, got involved in the sale of fakes and is now in prison, and it is rumored that the money had left the Krasnoyarsk monastery.
Meeting with Stukolov and Dyukov again, Chapurin does not pretend that he has figured out their plan, and gives them three thousand in order to later catch the scammers in the act. In the Komarovskaya monastery, on the other hand, Manef’s mother delves into all the economic details, is interested in every inhabitant of the monastery. She pays special attention to Marya Gavrilovna Maslyanikova, a rich and still young widow who lives here of her own free will. She suffered a lot of grief with her old husband, and now she has found a quiet hearth pier in Komarov.
Marya Gavrilovna became very attached to Nastya during her stay in the monastery, favored her daughter and father. Patap Maksimych once borrowed twenty thousand from Marya Gavrilovna, but failed to return on time, so she agreed to wait for how much he needed.
A few days later, a trusted man of Chapurin arrives at the monastery and shares his guesses with the nuns in dismay: Stukolov and Dyukov, he believes, they beat Chapurin to make fake money. Hearing this, Manefa faints. For a long time, before Easter, she lay in bed. Flenushka persuades Marya Gavrilovna to ask Chapurin to let his daughters go to the monastery. Marya Gavrilovna, who herself misses Nastya, eagerly writes a letter to Patap Maksimych.
And in the Chapurins' house it’s sad. The hostess is unlucky. Her brother dissolute in the absence of the owner again washed down. Parasha from boredom sleeps a sound sleep. Nastya yearns for Alexei.
Alexei has his own thoughts. And he wants to marry Nastya, and he is afraid of Chapurin, and gold is fogging his head. And already a black shadow ran between him and Nastya, she sensed something and threatens her lover: “If you have another one, you shouldn’t live the love of the woman ... Yes, and it will not be selfish for you ...”
Finally, in the sixth week of Lent, Chapurin returned home. Upon learning of Manefa’s illness, he gives his daughters permission to visit the Mother Superior. Alexey Patap Maksimych sends to the Krasnoyarsk monastery to warn Father Michael about the dark Stukolov’s plans. At the same time, Chapurin is hinting to Alexei that he has high hopes.
Before leaving for Komarov, Nastya, not having endured mental anguish, confesses to her mother: "I lost myself! .. There is no honor for a girl! .. I suffered, mama ..."
And in Komarov comes Moscow spokesman Vasily Borisych, an oil-walker on the female side. From him, Manefa accidentally learns that the righteous Stukolov, in addition to everything, is very greedy.
Arriving at Manefe with a letter from his brother, Alexey also sees Marya Gavrilovna, and mutual gravitation erupts between them. For the young widow, her first love was resurrected, while Alexey was also mixed with love for novelty — Mary Gavrilovna didn’t count money.
Flenushka notices that something is wrong with the guy, but she thinks that Nastina’s pride is saddening him.
Yes, and not to others now Flenushke. Manefa invites her to seriously think about the future. When there will be no Manefa, the nuns will eat her pet by eating. Isn’t it better to accept monasticism now? Then Manefa would have made Flenushka her successor. While the flannel flatly refuses.
Nastya, who from that day, as her mother admitted, has been lying unconscious, finally comes to her senses and apologizes to her parents. The girl knows that she does not have long to live, and asks her father to forgive her "destroyer". To the core, touched Patap Maksimych promises not to repair evil to Alexei.
So, repenting, and the servant of God Anastasia repented.
Alexey returned from the trip at the very moment when the funeral procession with Nastya’s coffin went beyond the outskirts of the village.
Patap Maksimych takes a vow of silence from Alexei. Alexei reports that on the road he ran into Stukolov, Dyukov and Father Mikhail - they were sent to prison to shack.
Marya Gavrilovna, after meeting with Alexei as if blossomed, announces to Manefe that she decided to leave the monastery in the city.
In the spring in the Volga region for young people begin partying. There is no place for festivities in the hermitages. Here at this time, prayers and services are even more zealous.
And a new misfortune falls on Manefu, cleaner than the former. From St. Petersburg, they are secretly telling us that persecution of monasteries is coming: the icons are sealed and taken away, and the monks are sent to their birthplace.
Mother Superior decides to keep this information secret so far in order to buy cheaper houses in the city for wanderers, notifying only the narrowest circle of trusted mothers about upcoming events. To organize a congress in Komarov, Flenushka is taken.
Before parting with Alexei, Chapurin informed him that Marya Gavrilovna was looking for a clerk, and he, Chapurin, recommended Alexei to her.
Alexei goes to the provincial city and rummages there from idleness and uncertainty of his position, but there is no news from Marya Gavrilovna.
On the fortieth day of Nastina’s death, many guests come to Patap Maksimych to commemorate. Among them is the ubiquitous Vasily Borisych, who has time to sing stichera and Parasha Chapurina’s blossoming splendor to discern.
Chapurin confuses the Moscow commander with his frivolous speeches about heritic customs.
Vasily Borisych amazed those present, and Chapurina especially, with his horizons and fresh outlook on things. In the Volga region, he says, various crafts should be started, and whoever is first here will receive countless profits.
And Chapurin begins to entice the scribe to his trading activities, offers to help at first with advice and money. No matter how Vasily Borisitch refuses, Chapurin stands his ground.
Finally, the stubborn merchant almost gets his way. Vasily Borisitch promises him, having completed all the instructions given to him in Moscow in six weeks, to go to Chapurin as clerk. "And on his own mind:" Only if I could get out of Podobru-pozdorovu.
Marya Gavrilovna became gloomy and silent, sleeps poorly, a candle melts on fire. And then there’s a new concern: she received a letter from her brother - he bought a steamboat on her behalf and asks who to transfer it to. And from Alexei neither to the ears nor the spirit ... Finally he showed up. Without words, they understood each other and broke up only at the dawn. Marya Gavrilovna leaves the monastery without the slightest regret.
And Alex skillfully plays on the feelings of Marya Gavrilovna. She already wrote down the ship in his name, although they have not yet been marched. Marya Gavrilovna herself decides only one thing: they will be married in a single-faith church (it is a sin, but more strongly than the Old Believers).
Alexei doesn’t care. The main thing for him is to show off in public. Now he dressed as a dandy, grabbed all sorts of “tricky words,” and he’s added every day.
The venturer Flenushka, who was bored with the oil of Vasily Borisych, brings him to Parasha Chapurina. The sweetheart seems like a new love to the scribbler, but he is afraid of Chapurin’s anger, and Parasha herself will not say a word (she is much more embraced and kissing) ... He is glad that he went with pilgrimage nuns on a pilgrimage to the wonderful city of Kitezh.
In a motley crowd of pilgrims, Vasily Borisych encounters the venerable merchant Mark Danilich Smolokurov and his beautiful daughter Dunya.
The nuns invite generous donations from Smolokurov to visit Komarov together with Dunya. Joins them and Vasily Borisych, already envious of the beauty of Dunin.
And another guest appears in Komarov - the young merchant Pyotr Stepanovich Samokvasov. He seemed to come on business, but most of all he was impatient to see Flenushka, who had been driving him for the third year on a rope.
And she sets the condition for Pyotr Stepanych: before getting married, let him first help Vasily Borisych and Parasha to twist. Samokvasov agrees on everything, if only to cure his beloved.
The time has come for the congress of mothers from all hermitages. All day there was debate and debate at this cathedral. "He did not end with anything, they didn’t decide on a single article." The hopes that were entrusted to the Moscow orbit of Vasily Borisych went to dust. Not ecclesiastical, but worldly, his thoughts are occupied.
Just in the midst of the cathedral the messenger jumped up with the news that in the coming days the ruin of the hermitages would begin. Mothers began to disperse in their sketches in order to hide icons, books, and, what is more valuable, from the skits' property from the "servants of Satan."
Vasily Borisych accepts the offer of Chapurin, who more than ever wants to attract him to his business.
Women and girls who visited Komarov gather with their company and jokingly begin to interrogate unmarried how they and their husband are going to live. Flenushka, having split up, says that she would certainly have started to push her husband, but this is unrealizable, she would not upset her mother, would not leave the monastery. One Dunya Smolokurova stated that she would marry only by love and would share joy and grief with her husband to the very end, and the rest the Lord would teach her ...
The speech of Duni is heard by Peter Stepanich Samokvasov, who appeared under the window of the firefly.
Flenushka, fulfilling the promise she made to Manefe, breaks with Samokvasov, but nevertheless demands that he fulfill the promise - help Vasily Borisych and Parasha “wrap them around with care”.The young merchant was not used to giving up his word. He agrees with the priest and coachmen - everything is ready for the wedding.
Chapurin, who went on business in the provincial city and visited Kolyshkin, was surprised to learn that his former clerk had married Marya Gavrilovna, became the owner of the house and the ship and enrolled in the first guild.
He does not like all this to his heart, but there is nothing to do, he must go to Marya Gavrilovna and ask for a postponement of the debt. Marya Gavrilovna greeted the guest courteously and affably, but reported that now her husband was in charge of all matters, and Alexey, who appeared soon, refused to defer the debt.
The same Kolyshkin rescues Chapurin, who somewhere obtained the necessary twenty thousand. Having received the money, Alexei examines every piece of paper and states that he will not collect interest on the bill from old memory. Barely restrained Chapurin.
Pyotr Stepanych fulfilled his promise: Vasily Borisych and Parasha twisted how; not better. Patap Maksimych forgave the young and ordered the wedding tables to cook. “The old thousand-year-old walked in full breadth and sinned in his old age - he went to dance for joys.”
