Because of the shepherd's negligence, a herd of cows almost died. Many people immediately took advantage of this circumstance to settle personal scores with the collective farm chairman Birulin, a very stroppy and harsh but knowledgeable leader. The bureau of the district committee, where not everyone was happy with him, recommends the collective farm board to remove the chairman. However, the collective farmers do not agree with this decision. The new secretary of the district committee comes to the collective farm and is convinced that the bureau has made a mistake. But the decision to reconsider the case is delayed: Birulin is hospitalized with a heart attack.