Hadži Trifun is a prominent Serbian merchant, who strives to maintain peace with the Turkish authorities, but also to maintain his reputation and influence in Vranje, an important Turkish city near the border with liberated Serbia. Trifun's troubles are not only caused by the powerful Turkish beys, but also by his own family. Tasana, the widow of Đorđe, the son of Haji Trifun, can't stand being locked in a dark room any longer. And several men were charmed by her beauty. Haji Trifun's second son, Mita, is not overly interested in trade, while the third son, Jovca, wants to drive his wife, the mother of his two children, to a monastery and marry for the third time.

Hadji Trifun tries to justify the decision to hand over his daughter-in-law, Tasana, the widow of his late son Djordje, to Kolja, the leader of the Albanian community who lives in the mountains near Vranje.

Haji Trifun's wife, Kata, does not agree with this, but he convinces her that it is the best way to calm down Tashana, who is causing anxiety among men who are infatuated with her beauty.

Bishop Miron came to Tašana, who, because of her refusal, decided to become a monk. Myron asks her to repent. She refuses to submit and drinks wine in defiance of her surroundings. The fact that the local barber, Turčin Saroš, is also in love with Tašana brings new turmoil into Tašana's life.