In the house of the Moscow merchant Khariton Avdulovich, there is now a big fuss: a noble guest, St. Petersburg merchant Vikul Sofronovich himself has come! Khariton gets along with his only daughter Parasha.

Vikul, as he himself imagines, is “much over thirty” - it’s time to twist and nest. He is a famous man in merchants, the first guild, in the northern capital he has at least ten shops, he conducts large-scale trade.

A dignified conversation between two merchants, interrupted by praises of ancient customs, does not go far from money transfers: the dowry for the merchant is the first item.

Khariton gives his daughter a stone house in Moscow. True, he adds that for the time being the house is not hiss, but everything goes to that ... A sider (clerk) Andrey is trading in the Chariton shop. Once, Andrei's parent introduced Khariton into the merchant world and, one might say, put him on his feet. Dying, the Akim instructed his son Khariton, hoping that he would pay for the good with good. At first, everything was just like that, but then on the unrequited small wife of Chariton, Mavra, she began to impose one assignment after another, and now he walks after the horses, and drains the water, and washes, and sweeps, and even manages to weed. And this is besides sitting in the bench. So, glancing at Andrei's defenselessness and at some honesty that was absolutely inappropriate in trade, Khariton thought about it. And here the "enemy" whispers and whispers: "Why not push the orphan!"

Khariton sends his daughter to Andrei - take trading books. Andrei is not aware that there may be a malicious intent. He and Parasha have been together since childhood, like a brother and sister; Naturally, the sider does not expect any trick from the girl and gives the books away. Now, having hidden in a safe place books with records of trading accounts, Khariton will call the witnesses he needs and accuse Andrei of embezzlement. And there’s nothing to give to him, he only has a house.

Hariton transparently hints at all this, not at all embarrassed. He doesn’t need to chew, he has a tenacious eye, he understands everything at once and is even ready to become a witness against Andrey: this is indisputable. Anticipating good luck, Chariton rubs his hands.

Left alone, Vikul bends his thick fingers: a treasure, not a narrowed one - receives a sitter’s stone house in Moscow - once; takes a beauty as a wife - two; and since the daughter is the only one, when God takes the little thing - “Lord, clean it!” - both benches and all the rest also him - three!

Khariton invites the guest to have a bite. Vicula is especially delighted with cheesecakes. “The daughter was baking!” Hariton brags. "Oh, if God blessed the age from these hands to take food and drink!" Sighs the burly cunning and asks to invite Parasha.

Beauty Parasha is called upon, but she behaves strangely obstinately and does not want to go for the "black-nosed" in any way. Because of her disobedience, the whole so carefully thought-out plan can fail. Father raises his voice, Parasha is forced to give her consent, but pronounces to herself “dislike”: “I’ll marry - if you order, I’ll go, but I won’t love”. The old people are satisfied - can stand it - fall in love, and even live without love. Parasha runs away in sorrow, the merchants discuss the details. Khariton has already scored “witnesses” - one has been lent to him, the other is: the people are needed! Only - he is a little afraid of the merchant's Head. He stands up for orphans and generally acquired a strange fame among merchants - he became acquainted with the nobility, travels in carriages, smokes tobacco! But Vikul is wise: no strong one can stand against the golden coin - a hundred or two in his mouth, and that’s how it goes. “The truth is great, and the money is more beautiful than the truth!” - philosophizes puzan.

And in the other room, meanwhile, crying: Parasha can’t believe that her beloved parents sentenced her to misfortune. The news of the upcoming wedding leads to awe and Andrew. He has long endured inhuman treatment only for the sake of a girl: "I see Parashenka and forget all the grief."

The extraordinary nature of the news gives Andrey courage, and he opens up to Parasha in his love. She is also nice to her, but, it seems, now they have to part forever. Their conversation is becoming more trusting and affectionate, but the maid guarding the room, the deaf Tarasyevna (quite animating the action out of place with her answers), dozed off, and those who entered Khariton and Vikul catch a couple for a decisive explanation.

Vikul now understands who is responsible for such a sharp Parashina hostility towards him. For Hariton, falling in love with young people is also a discovery. He desperately scolds the sidekick, but Andrei suddenly dares, defiantly announcing that he is as much a merchant as they are. The desire to punish the sitler again unites Vikul and Khariton.

At this time, the house is unexpectedly visited by the merchants' Head of the Right-Workers, the very one whom Chariton feared. Khariton loudly announces Andrei’s "embezzlement" and calls him to court. The beacons promise to be in the evening and judge the truth. Led by Vikul, Khariton, not without timidity, puts a bag of gold coins into the hands of Pravodelov. However, he extremely accepts the gift: it turns out that at one time he was deeply offended by Andrei’s father.

Andrei is shocked by the charges. In profound expressions, he is trying to convince the judge, but everything is against him. Pravodelov already happened to deal with cases when the inmates were adjusting imaginary embezzlement, and the nobility bought money for the proceeds from defamation. Khariton assented in time: "I am addicted to reading printed books, I go to theaters ..."

Andrei says a great monologue to praise the merchants. The title of an honest merchant, he exclaims, the title of nobleman is no less honorable: one serves as a sword, shedding blood for the Fatherland; the other, by his labor, his labor, enriching the treasury.

With ceremoniality and humility, having led the Head, Khariton silently chants to himself: “Well, now Andryushenysin is my house!”

Evening is approaching, witnesses come - Plyugavtsov, soulless and Neravdin. Khariton discusses with them the last details of the script. Finally, the Head arrives and the trial begins. Khariton is suing - he was taken by a steward into the shop for 12 thousand goods, and now the shop is empty. "Witnesses" confirm that there were only arshins and scissors.

Andrew makes excuses - the owner sent most of the goods to the fair, and took the rest to a new store. But he has no records about this: he completely trusted the owner. It seems that the outcome is resolved. There is waste, nothing to pay, the house is selected. The beacons for the last time asks Andrei, maybe he also has some witness? He shakes his head. The beacons unexpectedly take out a bag of gold: "Here is your witness!"

“A dishonest man! - he is ashamed of Chariton. - You might have thought that you could buy my conscience ?! If you're right, what should you give me ?! ” On top of Kharitonov’s troubles, the deaf Tarasyevna brings trading books hidden there from the cellar. Khariton repents of his wickedness, inevitable punishment awaits him.

Andrei stands up for Khariton: “My parent, handing me to him, ordered me to be honored as a father. My heart will not allow me to evade this sacred commandment. If you found me right, leave my resentment without vengeance. "

The law-makers strictly reprimand false witnesses, and reproaches Vikula. Shocked by the generosity of Andryae, Khariton agrees to give him a daughter.