This Brazilian story is set in 1910 in a southern rural community populated by Italian immigrants. There average-looking but hard-working Angelo, a peasant, marries free-spirited and lovely Teresa. After the wedding he goes into business with the handsome Massimo. Massimo's wife is the plain but good-hearted Pierina. Their grain business grows into a major success and as they begin raising families, Massimo and Teresa find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. They end up having an affair and abandoning their less beautiful spouses. Fortunately, the two abandoned spouses discover that they too have fallen in love. The whole sinful situation becomes a thorn in the disapproving parish priest's side, and he threatens to destroy their business. But the business continues flourishing and soon both couples begin bearing more children. Happiness ensues.