After her aunts death, young Miriam gets a position with the Allnes family. They have a son, Hans. Miriam and Hans fall in love. But the Hans mother is jealous and disapprove.

Justiina pushes Pekka and Pätkä to take painting lessons after realizing that art can be a way to earn a living. With the help of the yard children, a painting is created that wins first prize at a contemporary art exhibition. In the meantime, the men, along with their assistant Miss Kaihokielo, have been charged with art theft. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, the Puupääs use the art prize money to convert the house's bomb shelter into a children's clubroom.