Sengsara Membawa Nikmat

Kacak, the conceited nephew of a rich village leader in Padang, is jealous of Midun, the religious and popular son of a poor farmer; Kacak often attempts to goad Midun into fighting him. After Midun saves his wife from drowning, Kacak becomes enraged at the thought that Midun had touched his wife and attacks him. Midun fights back, quickly knocking Kacak out. As a result of his actions, Midun is forced to do tasks for the village leader under Kacak's supervision.

Still enraged at Midun, Kacak hires an assassin to kill him. When the attempt fails, the assassin and Midun are arrested and sent to prison. While in prison, Midun is tortured until he earns a reputation for being a good fighter. He also meets Halimah, who lives with her stepfather, after returning her diamond necklace. After he is released from prison, Midun takes Halimah to find her father in Bogor.

After living with them for two months, Midun attempts to go to Batavia to find work, and leaves Halimah with her father in Bogor. Along the way, he meets the Arab Indonesian Syekh Abdullah, who lends him money; after refusing to pay the high interest or let Abudullah marry Halimah, Midun is arrested. After his release, he saves a Dutch youth being attacked in Pasar Baru. For saving the boy, Midun is granted a job at the police station by the boy's father, the hoofdcommissaris (head commissioner). He then becomes confident enough to go to Bogor to marry Halimah, and takes her to live with him in Batavia.

Midun is later stationed in Padang upon request to the commissioner, after hearing that his father had died. People in his village are very happy to learn that Midun is appointed as Asisten Demang (district head assistant), except for Kacak, who turned pale and nervous when congratulating Midun. Kacak is arrested for embezzlement, and Midun lives happily ever after.