In the summer of 1916, in Tashkent, a young boy named Qoravoy lives with his widowed mother and his sisters. His childhood is marked by innocent mischief, but one day he's caught in the act of sneaking eggs and lard to organize a communal meal for pilaf, a traditional dish. After being reprimanded for his mischievous behavior, he hides from his family in an abandoned house, only to encounter a gang led by the notorious thief [Sultan], a character played by Khamza Umarov. Sultan scares Qoravoy with a knife, prompting the boy to run away from the city altogether.
Qoravoy travels to a nearby town, where a local farmer offers him shelter in a barn under the condition that if a sick bull needs butchering, he will call the owner to help. Showing bravery and skill, Qoravoy manages to kill what he believes to be the sick bull, only to realize it was a donkey. The enraged peasant chases him across rooftops, and Qoravoy narrowly escapes by falling into a tandoor oven through a chimney. Later that evening, he sneaks into a merchant's party, where he witnesses a woman celebrating with her lover. Using blackmail, Qoravoy extracts some food and money before slipping away again.
The following day, he finds himself accused of theft by a lynch mob at the marketplace. Frightened, he confesses to every crime he can think of—some real, some impossible—prompting the crowd to laugh and ultimately freeing him. Desperate for work, Qoravoy volunteers to report news from an estate but warns the landowner, known as the bai, that he tends to lie. The bai enjoys mocking his workers and is prone to violence, discouraging anyone from returning with news. Instead, Qoravoy tells a wild, humorous story reminiscent of The Servant Maimundus, involving a series of comically unfortunate events that lead to him being expelled and paid with rotten apples.
Later, Qoravoy sells these apples at a marketplace where he reunites with his friend Aman, who now works as a sheep herder. Their reunion turns tense when they witness Sultan, the thief from earlier, accusing a peasant of theft and forcing the boys to testify in his favor. Sultan, reveling in his mischievous ways, boasts about his daring theft—putting a ring inside a stolen purse, reporting it to the police, and bribing officers to release the victim. When Qoravoy tries to leave, Sultan prevents him, saying he now belongs to his gang. The gang later begins to attack a doctor called "Domla," a self-proclaimed medrese teacher, and the boys seize the chance to slip away. Aman blames Qoravoy for his troubles, and they part ways.
Qoravoy returns to Tashkent, where he helps an elderly man, Khadzhi Bobo, carry a sack of bread. Khadzhi Bobo owns a cannabis den and hires Qoravoy in exchange for food and tips. As he begins to make money conversing with the clientele—intelligent yet morally questionable individuals—Qoravoy feels a deep longing for his family. Realizing that he is unlikely to leave this life, he deliberately provokes Khadzhi Bobo to fire him.
In the end, Qoravoy returns home wealthy, only to find that his mother has recently passed away, leaving his journey of adventures and lessons behind. This story captures the essence of childhood, innocence, mischief, and the harsh realities of life, weaving them into a rich tapestry of life in early 20th-century Central Asia.
