Rakel Linnanheimo

Teacher's daughter Anna cannot enter the music college because of her family's opposition. At the request of her relatives she goes to Helsinki to study administrative sciences, but nasty fellow students make the girl leave the university and apply to become a nurse.

Liisa Harju, a lively and quick-witted teacher from Savo, gets her first job in Latomeri, Ostrobothnia. She falls out of favor with the local women when the eligible bachelor, doctor Eino Korpinen, takes a liking to her.

It is the year 1915, and five Finnish men ski to Sweden via the Gulf of Bothnia to get military training in Germany. Among the men are Martti and Kalpa from the 27th Army Ranger Battalion. In the reserve, the troops spend their free time in a café called the Golden Anchor, owned by Sonja Strand. Sonja's captain serves in the Russian army, and Sonja has a relationship with Baron von Lichtenstein, who exploits Sonja who spies on Russia using Jew Isaac as her messenger.

In 1916, Finland is still a part of Russian Empire. Eugen Schauman murders the governor of Finland, and his fellow activists take on smaller tasks in the fight for freedom.

Sock manufacturer August Lampaanpää finds himself in financial difficulties due to the upkeep of his girlfriend Kyllikki Mattler, appeasing his wife, and opposing his daughter Vappu's plans to marry car mechanic Manne Hietikko.

Strong women take care of the property while the men focus on chasing women.

Reino Köyri the son of a wealthy house falls off a horse and ends up at Liuhala's cottage to be treated by Venla. There he falls in love with the daughter of the house Anna. The couple’s cohabitation is hampered by previous commitments and ambiguities in kinship.

Blind since birth, Antreas Tuurio earns a meager living selling brushes at the Market Square. Despite his disability, he is a cheerful and optimistic person. Kind high school girl Martta loves Antreas, while office worker Jolanda is the fulfillment of his dreams. The blind and poor man's feelings are not reciprocated, but when he inherits millions, even the flighty Jolanda seeks Antreas' company.