Stepan convinces his beloved to run away. The lovers agree not to give free rein to their feelings before marriage, but the passion turns out to be stronger. Kolevanov undertakes to find a fugitive to marry her.
Astakhov, having fought with the Melekhov brothers, becomes their sworn enemy. Natalya Korshunova falls in love with Grigory. He, in turn, invites Aksinya to end their relationship and marries Natalya.
Panteley Prokofievich, Grigory leaves home and takes Aksinya with him. Together they leave the farm. Natalya, exhausted by the humiliation of her position, attempts suicide.
Aksinya confesses to Grigory that she is expecting a child from him. Gregory leaves for a four-year service; on the way, his father informs him that Natalya survived and asks if Grigory will live with her when he returns.
Yagodnoye, to beg Aksinya to return her husband. Tanya, the daughter of Gregory and Aksinya, falls ill with scarlet fever and soon dies. Aksinya converges with Listnitsky, who arrived on leave due to injury.
Rumors reach Peter about the infidelity of Daria, who cohabited with Stepan Astakhov. Pantelei Prokofievich takes measures to rein in his daughter-in-law, but this does not lead to anything good.
Grigoryevich Korshunov, father of Natalya and Mitka, is elected ataman. The centurion offers Gregory for the post of commander, but he is reminded of the Red Guard past, and Peter is appointed.
For a humane attitude towards the prisoners, Gregory is removed from the command of a hundred, he again accepts a platoon. During the retreat, Grigory arbitrarily leaves the front and returns home.
Grigory, but he manages to leave for another village. Having learned about the beginning of the uprising in Kazanskaya, Grigory returns home. Peter is chosen as the commander of the cavalry hundred.
Grigory wakes up; Taking advantage of Stepan's absence, she asks Daria to call her loved one. Their connection is renewed. Daria accuses Ivan Alekseevich of her husband's death and shoots him.
After making inquiries about the Koshevs and finding out that Mishka's mother and children remained at home, Mitka and his comrades kill them. Upon learning of this, Pantelei Prokofievich drives him out of the yard.
Melekhovs. Mishka continues to visit them, not at all embarrassed by the fact that his hands are stained with Peter's blood, and in the end he achieves his goal: Ilyinichna agrees to his marriage to Dunyashka.
After resting in the steppe, they are about to move on when they come across an outpost on their way. The fugitives manage to get away from the chase, but one of the bullets fired after them injures Aksinya.
