Summer afternoon. Two young philosophers Nikanor Zubar and Koronat Khmara, having studied for ten years at the Poltava seminary and "having exhausted the whole storehouse of wisdom in that temple," make their way home through the dense forest. Thunderstorm forces them to seek refuge, and they go to the wagon, the owners of which are their fathers.

Noble noblemen Ivan Zubar and Ivan Khmara are inseparable friends from adolescence, and therefore others call them Ivan the Elder and Ivan the Younger. The path of the two Ivanovs lies in Mirgorod, but the meeting with the sons changes their plans, and together they return to their native Gorbyly.

On the way home, Ivan the Younger tells Nikanor and Koronat about the motivation for their trip to Mirgorod today - this is a lawsuit, so stubborn and implacable, which no one remembers in this region. It all started with a pair of rabbits, which was presented to Nikanor’s younger brother about ten years ago. Rabbits quickly bred and began to visit the garden of Chariton Zanoza, located next door. One fine day, when both Ivan and his families were resting under flowering trees, gun shots rang out. Then Pan Zanoza showed up with half a dozen dead rabbits, threatening to court and exterminate all the remaining damned animals. He not only spoke boldly, but also dared not to take off his cap, which completely angered Ivan the elder, a military man. The latter tried to remove the cap from Khariton with the help of a stake pulled out of the fence, but he did it so awkwardly that he hit his neighbor's ear, which caused him to fly onto the grass. From this incident, a ten-year litigation began, during which many things were destroyed and burned on both sides.

The next day, both friendly families go to the fair, where they face Pan Hariton, with all his family and many guests, including the hundred-strong office of the scribe of Anuria. Having exchanged insults, the enemies move on to more weighty arguments: after spitting Ivan the Elder, who had smacked Khariton in the forehead, followed by a stick of Zanoza, which “fell like a bolt of lightning” onto the opponent’s head. The massacre was stopped by the scribe of Anuria, who called on Khariton not to shed human blood, but to “be called” (here - to sue, start a lawsuit), in which he offered his services as a compiler of a petition to the hundred-strong office.

Young philosophers were not carried away by the passion of their fathers for endless urge, their hearts were captivated by the lovely daughters of Chariton Zanoza. Yes, and Lydia with Raisa do not remain indifferent to the courteous manners and pleasant appearance of Poltava dandies. And while two Ivana with Khariton once again call in Mirgorod, their children begin to meet secretly and soon realize that they cannot live without each other.

In daily visits to the chestnut ten days passed quietly. Fathers come from Mirgorod with the decision of the 100th chancellery, and the dates of young lovers are temporarily stopped. The case of mutual complaints of two Ivanov and Khariton was decided in favor of the latter. And although he, like Ivana, spent a lot of money on this trip, the idea that Zanoza had gained the upper hand, corrupts the hearts of his opponents. “Wait, Hariton! - exclaims with heat Ivan the Elder. “You repent of your victory and repent soon!”

The young gentry, realizing that the presence of Khariton Zanoza in the Slaves makes dates with their kindly impossible, decide to contribute to his next trip to the city. Driving past the Chariton dovecote, Nikanor inspires his father to shoot the pigeons in revenge for the mischief that Hariton caused. The shooting of poor creatures ends with a dovecote fire. But Ivanov did not rejoice for long - in retaliation for his dovecot, Khariton burned the apiary of Ivan the Elder.

And again, the enemies rush to Mirgorod with mutual complaints.

While parents are called in the hundred-strong office, their children, secretly married, spend a month in ecstasy and raptures of love. But they cannot hide their love indefinitely, and Nikanor swears by all means to reconcile his parents.

Friends begin to act. They send a letter to Pan Zanoze on behalf of his wife Anfisa, informing him that his house in Gorbilya was burned down, and his relatives, burned during a fire, are forced to move to a farm.

Having received the letter, Khariton hurries to the farm and, finding no one there, goes to Gorbyli. At home, having caused terrible turmoil and having scared his relatives to death, Pan Zanoza finds out that the letter he received is forged. Well, of course, this is a new invention of the insidious Ivanovs who wanted to remove him from the city, so that in his absence it would be more convenient to act in their favor!

The next day, Pan Anuria arrives at Hariton’s house with a letter from the hundred-strong chancellery about the last urge. The decision of the hundredth chancellery in favor of Ivan the Elder, for which Zanoza must pay the ruble to his offender, brings Khariton into an indescribable rage. Having hacked off Pan Anuria, Khariton announces his decision - he goes to Poltava to the regimental office to call with the fool-centurion and his loafers!

But the regimental chancellery decides not in favor of Khariton, moreover, she orders to give the farm to a battered scribe for eternal and hereditary use. Now the path of Zanoza lies in Baturin, in the military chancellery, to call on new enemies.

Khariton’s lawsuit with the regiment and the hundred-strong chancellery ends with Anfiz and her children being kicked out of the Gorbylev house, which is transferred to the centurion and members of the hundred-strong chancellery, and Khariton himself is sent to Baturin prison for six weeks for his “violent temper”.

Help to the unfortunate family of Pan Zanoza comes from an unexpected direction: the uncle of Ivan the elder, Artamon Zubar, a wealthy and venerable old man, offers Anfisa with his children to live “in time” in his house. He himself condemns the destructive passion of his nephews to "fatal litigation" (Ivan the Younger, his wife has to be clear). One hope for the beloved grandchildren, Nikanor and Coronate, who must reconcile the warring.

Meanwhile, Ivanov unexpectedly arrives at Artamon’s house with all his household members. According to the decision of the military chancellery for "violence, fury, ignition," their movable and immovable property is attributed to the hundredth estate. Only now both Ivanes knew all the truth of Artamon's judgments about the cursed call. They ask for help and protection from their "magnanimous uncle."

Artamon is ready to help his nephews, but sets them two indispensable conditions: the first is never to call anyone else; the second is to consider the Kharitonov’s daughters, who became the wives of their eldest sons, along with their daughters, and to honor their mother as a good and worthy mother of the family, and also if Khariton expresses a desire to reconcile with them, to embrace him as a brother. Both Ivan with "indescribable pleasure" agree with the terms of their good-natured uncle. But who will tame the indomitable temper of the matchmaker Ivanov, Mr. Chariton? What is happening to him now?

And Pan Khariton is sitting in the Baturin prison. And chew him stale bread, washed down with water, if not for his two neighbors - the young Cossacks Dubonos and Nechos, who fraternally share their breakfasts, lunches and dinners with him. Khariton becomes attached to magnanimous youths with fatherly love, and when they upon completion of punishment offer him to go together to the Zaporizhzhya Sich, he happily agrees - because only shame awaits him at home.

Under the influence of young people, beneficial changes are taking place in the character of Chariton. Remembering his past life, he experiences deep remorse. Pan Zanozu worries about the fate of his family, but he does not dare to come to them. "What will I offer them when I myself exist from the gifts of friendship and generosity."

Seeing the torment of Chariton, Dubonos and Nechos make him an unexpected offer: they ask Zanoza to introduce them to their daughters. Maybe they will like each other, and then, having formed one family, Khariton will regain lost peace.

So, it was decided: the Cossacks with Khariton go to Sich through Gorbyly to get full information about the whereabouts of the Zanoza family there. In Gorbylya, it turns out that Artamon bought the estates of Zanoza, Zubar and Khmara and became their sole owner. Artamon meets with Chariton and offers, while they are looking for his family, to live on a farm that until recently belonged to him, Khariton.

A few days later, Artamon brings Anfizu with his children to the farm, and the shocked Khariton discovers that his wife and children have been staying at the Artamonovsk Farm from his uncle’s enemies from the day he was expelled from the farmhouse. Artamon takes from Chariton a promise to wholeheartedly reconcile with his neighbors Ivan, and then leaves to see his nephews.

It didn’t hide from the insightful glances of Pan Khariton that Raisa and Lydia at first sight captured the hearts of the Cossacks, and therefore, when young men ask him to keep his promise, he joyfully blesses the young couples.

Two days pass by as one joyful minute. On the third, both Ivana come to Khariton to the farm and, completing the final reconciliation, offer Pan Zanoze to marry the children. The splinter is moved, but his daughters already have suitors. When parting, the Pans Ivana promise that they will participate in the wedding festival.

Finally, the day is coveted by all. A lot of guests come to Khariton's farm, among them are Artamon and his two nephews with their families. Everyone is waiting for the brides to leave. And then the Khariton’s daughters appeared, holding in their arms a lovely little girl. Good Artamon reveals the truth to the shocked Khariton: his daughters have been married for a long time, and their husbands are the sons of Panov Ivanov, Nikanor and Koronat, they are beloved Cossacks. Happy Hariton blesses children and presses his grandchildren to his chest.

For several days in a row the festivities in the estates of the lords Khariton, Ivan the Elder and Ivan the Younger continue. And henceforth, only peace, friendship and love reign in their homes.