“The Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” is an ordinary settlement—an “isthmus” in a bend of the river. There are only four houses here. In each house, in every plot of land, peaceful life flows the way it always has. But one day, the calm current of summer prosperity is disrupted: on the doorstep of one of the homes, “black realtors” appear and announce to the owner that she must immediately leave the house because it now belongs to new owners. Yes, victory over easy odds wasn’t won without a fight! She had to fight for it! And yet you can once again be sure that honesty, decency, and courage always win over baseness, злость (malice), and greed. Ordinary—at first glance—people become strong, fearless, and truly courageous heroes.