The opening of the novel introduces the main characters and the close, though at times strained, relationship between the siblings. Jürgen is the authoritative and tradition-bound elder brother running the business with an iron sense of duty, while Wolf is younger, more sensitive, and yearning for personal freedom and life beyond commerce. Herta acts as the balancing force with her social involvement and maternal presence. When Ilse, an artistic and independent young woman, arrives to learn household management, her presence quietly unsettles the routine. Wolf is quickly captivated by her, while Jürgen regards her with reserve, foreshadowing conflicts born from generational differences and unspoken desires. Early chapters set the stage with vivid depictions of family life, business affairs, and the subtle shifts that new influences provoke in a once-stable household. (This is an automatically generated summary.)