November, 1941. The men set off to war one after another, only old people, women and children are left in the village of Bykovka. The kolkhoz chairman Ivan Vybornov wants to depart for the frontline too, but obeys the party discipline, remains in the village and goes on with the clever and energetic management of the kolkhoz, mobilizing the villagers to send bread to the front and to the starving towns.