As Shalabia has feelings for Saeed El Zawani, the fraudulent thief, despite her marriage to Tuhami, Saeed uses her to learn the news of the village to steal from them, and then returns half of the stolen items, claiming that they are among the holy people.
As Saeed and Ghobashi arrange for thefts, Saeed buys the coffeehouse in the town and contracts with praisers to sing there. While they preoccupy the people, Saeed and Ghobashi steal from them and from the Sheikh of the town.
Saeed becomes famous after helping the town Sheikh recover his stolen goods. When Saeed lures Shalabia to find out where her husband's money is, he and Ghobashi rob Tuhami, who dies of heartbreak.
Saeed and Ghobashi arrange to leave the town and convince its people that they are afraid of theft in order to keep the accusations away. Saeed goes to Zafaran hamlet. Shalabia confesses to the officer that Saeed is the thief, but he does not believe her as there is no evidence.
Saeed marries Sabha, the mayor's relative, and he visits Ghabashi in Cairo to deceive the villagers that he is performing the pilgrimage. When the town Sheikh encounters Saeed and confronts him with Shalabia's confession, Saeed denies
Ghabashi marries Fathia and opens a textile shop, while Saeed returns to the village. Shalabia travels to search for Saeed in Cairo, and Sabha gives birth to Magdi. As Saeed's trade expands, he lends the people money for usury, and becomes the supervisor of the land of Kamal Pasha's wife.
As Hajj Ahmed passes away, Saeed seeks to get close to his wife, Zeinat, to control her husband's inheritance. Elsewhere, Ghobashi thinks of telling Fathia about his past.
Zeinat refuses to marry the mayor of Zafaran hamlet, who is surprised by Saeed's marriage to Zeinat, much to Sabha's shock.
Shalabia is famous in the hamlet as one of the Guardians of the Lady. As Ghobashi's trade expands, Saeed is surprised by Zeinat's pregnancy. Meanwhile, Fathia hides from Ghobashi the test results of his inability to have children.
Zeinat dies during Bahgat's birth. Ghobashi and Fathia seek the Guardians of the Lady, where they find Shalabia. Saeed ascribes his son Bahgat to Sabha instead of Zeinat to take over her entire inheritance. Ghabashi tells Saeed about Shalabia and advises him to repent and earn honest livelihood.
Unlike Bahgat, Saeed refuses to let Magdi enter a university. As Magdi intends to marry Sharifa, he tells his mother about his wish. Ghobashi turns to Shalabia to forgive him.
Saeed intends to run for mayor. As Bahgat deceives Sharifa about his feelings for her, Sharifa breaks off her engagement to Magdi due to her feelings for his brother. The mayor wishes to marry his granddaughters to Bahgat and Magdi.
Sharifa tries to persuade Bahgat to propose to her. Saeed seeks to commit crimes in the hamlet to embarrass the mayor and get him removed from office. Saeed is surprised by Sharifa's love for Bahgat, who lies to Magdi that he did not promise Sharifa to marry her.
Sharifa is still waiting for Bahgat to marry her. Meanwhile, Saeed seeks to work with the British. As Bahgat returns to the hamlet after completing his studies, he is still deceiving Sharifa that he will propose to her.
Bahgat obtains a law degree. When Saeed and Bahgat go to a wedding, they meet Kamal El Zafarani, who decides to give Bahgat a job.
Bahgat starts his job while Saeed seeks to establish a company and partners up with Kamal Pasha. Bahgat betroths Camelia, his neighbor in Cairo, out of greed, without the knowledge of his family.
While Magdi informs Sharifa that Bahgat does not intend to marry her, Bahgat changes his place of residence to move away from Camelia. Later on, Kamal becomes a minister and appoints Bahgat as his private secretary, in addition to his work in the company.
As Saeed becomes mayor, Bahgat expands his work with Karima's husband, Mamdouh. Later on, Mamdouh suffers a heart attack, and dies before selling his property to Karima. Magdi forgives Sharifa.
As Bahgat manages Karima's business after Mamdouh's death, he seeks to get close to her. Saeed's company closes for selling donkey meat to the English, and he loses his position as mayor. Magdi marries Sharifa. When Kamal's condition deteriorates, Bahgat takes over the management of his money.
As Bahgat marries Karima, he tries to seize her money. Saeed's business expands, and he starts working at the stock exchange.
Kamal dies, and Karima gives birth to Ataa. Saeed loses all his money in the stock exchange. Ghobashi dies and leaves his property to Shalabia. After his theft is revealed, Bahgat resigns from the ministry and Karima leaves him, and he returns to the hamlet.