On a fishing trip, Panteley Prokofievich demands that Grigory leave Aksinya Astakhova, the wife of Stepan's Melekhov neighbor, alone, but Grigory continues to flirt with Aksinya. Aksinya, who did not know love, to her horror,
Aksinya is renewed. After a quarrel with Panteley Prokofievich, Grigory leaves home and takes Aksinya with him. Together they leave the farm. Natalia, exhausted by the humiliation of her position, attempts to commit suicide.
Grigory that he is expecting a child from him. Gregory leaves for a four-year service; on the way, his father informs him that Natalya has survived, and asks if Gregory will live with her when he returns.
Yagodnoye, to beg Aksinya to return her husband. Tanya, daughter of Grigory and Aksinya, falls ill with scarlet fever and soon dies. Aksinya converges with Listnitsky, who has come on vacation due to injury.
In the fall, Natalia gives birth to twins. Rumors reach Peter about the infidelity of Daria, who cohabited with Stepan Astakhov. Panteley Prokofievich takes measures to rein in his daughter-in-law, but this does not lead to anything good.
In winter, Grigory returns to the farm, but again not for long - Mishka threatens him with arrest. Melekhov leaves his father's house in order to return later for Aksinya. But fate, now forever, separates two loving hearts .