The story takes place on a mountain slope where defectors from North Korea live. These families sell cheap things such as socks and pens to make a living and there is a serious gap between the parents and their children. A widower Kim Deok-sam nags his son Geo-buk to join the American army. Ok-Mae who lives next door teaches her daughter Bok-soon traditional Korean folksongs and forces her to become a gisaeng.

金大尉在战争中下半身瘫痪，被送回后方。妻子惠景鼓励丈夫重新站起来，并精心护理他的生活。在避难地大丘，他们遇到秉善、英善兄妹。兄妹俩帮助惠景建立新的生活。不久，妹妹英善嘱托惠景继续社会公益事业，自己留下所有积蓄自杀了。战事恢复，金大尉夫妇回到汉城，开始了救助战争未亡人的工作。