Matti Hunttala is a businessman who buys, sells, exchanges, and steals—whatever best suits his plans. The men of Hukansalmi municipality do not suspect Hunttala's grand promises. Business representative Koistinen, municipal manager Kiiskinen, and bank manager Ruotsalainen believe they have met someone who can boost the municipality's poor economy and factory projects. Hunttala buys Hukanharju from the municipality for free, promising to build factories there to create jobs for the municipality, but Hunttala sells the ridge to the gravel magnate and flees Hukansalmi himself.