1790 Turku. After Katarina Thorwöst becomes a widow, there are many suitors, but her heart belongs to the fencing teacher lieutenant Carl-Magnus Schildt.
Esko makes a bet that he will marry the first young woman he encounters. This turns out to be Kirsti, who promptly turns down the proposals. But when she finds about the bet, she agrees to marry him in order to get her revenge.
In the early 1800s, Finnish governor's daughter first detests but soon falls in love with Russian Czar Alexander I who has just taken Finland over from Sweden's rule.
Cavalryman Kalle Kollola makes a fool of himself in order to get by with less service during his time in the army. Aunt Loviisa, who has come to see him, urges her witty but lazy cousin to straighten up. Aunt Loviisa also helps Miss Hilja Aro settle her differences with the horse master Kalpa.
Sisters Irma and Airi Ranna's café Iltatähti has run into financial trouble. Touring musicians Heikki and Jussi end up as tenants in the same boarding house where the siblings and the poetic accountant live. Since the landlady does not allow music in her nursing home, the musicians practice at Iltatähti and revolutionize the life of the cafe.