Mother told how Maria Vladimirovna Lukina was killed in Evlashevo. This murder was discussed at the village meeting, where everyone could express their opinion. Nikita Fedorovich Sbitnev spoke out against the murder, but the majority did not want to listen to him, as he was a kulak. The soldier Budkin, who had returned from the front, incited the murder. However, the minority, disagreeing with the murder, demanded official confirmation of their non-involvement. The meeting decided to issue such confirmation and to kill the old woman. Led by Budkin, the mob with clubs headed to the estate to kill the old lady and her daughter, who was called 'the chick' in the village.

Despite her friends' pleas to leave Evlashevo during this time of turmoil, Maria Vladimirovna refused: 'I was born here, and if God has judged, I will die here too.' She remained in the crumbling estate. When the village meeting voted for her death, she was having dinner with her daughter. Suddenly, there was a knock at the window, and her daughter, opening the window, found a note: 'Run quickly, they are coming to kill you.' However, the old woman only managed to reach the carriage house, where they were discovered by peasant dogs, followed by the mob with clubs. Maria Vladimirovna was likely killed with the first blow, but a miracle happened with 'the chick.' She woke up at dawn in the carriage house, being licked by an Irish setter. The girl, gathering her last strength, crawled to her mother, but upon seeing that she was dead, crawled further. The setter followed her and saved her when she lost consciousness near the Sbitnev farm. The dog attracted attention, and the Sbitnevs picked up 'the chick' and took her to the hospital in Saransk.