Jean Morin, an industrial designer in Nantes, is unfairly fired by his employer. From then on, he will know many ups and downs. Not finding another job, Jean leaves Nantes for the country where he offers his services as a farm hand. But the locals distrust him and refuse to hire him. Until the day the young man saves the life of Migaut, an old farmer who, out of thankfulness, gives him a job. Jean works hard but Migaut`s son, jealous of him, arranges things so that he is discredited. Disgusted, Jean leaves for Paris where he becomes a street hawker.