Lightning sets light to the beautiful old farmhouse belonging to Anna Christeiner. She is devastated. The farm was underinsured and money for rebuilding is lacking. Her mother-in-law, Leni Wallner, offers Anna, her mother, Zensi, and her daughter, Elli, refuge at the Wallner Hof, but living together under one roof proves difficult. Anna's recent marriage to Johannes, the engineer, is also affected, he works night and day in order to secure an important and highly lucrative contract, just when she needs him at her side. In Johannes' absence, his brother, Markus Wallner, sees the chance to win Anna whom he still loves. Finally, Anna sees no alternative but to sell the farm to Stadlhuber and Penzinger, her adversaries, even if this breaks her heart. But Anna has reckoned without the strength of family ties.