Preface
As is well known, in the Gansu college entrance examination, there is a compulsory subject called "Hand-to-Hand Wolf Killing," worth 75 points, which has always accounted for a significant proportion of the total score. Hand-to-Hand Wolf Killing is also a popular form of entertainment among the people of Gansu.
In Lanzhou, Hand-to-Hand Wolf Killing, sheepskin rafting, and camel riding are known as the three major mass movements of Jincheng. Especially Hand-to-Hand Wolf Killing, it has been deeply loved by the people of Gansu since ancient times. Whenever you drink beer by the Yellow River on a summer night, you can see sturdy young men riding sheepskin rafts across the river. The rafts carry several wolves, and amidst the thunderous cheers from the shore, the young men skillfully strangle the wolves' throats, break their spines, and crush their jaws with a few moves. In these few minutes of splendid performance, you will feel like you are in the Roman Colosseum, not in Lanzhou, a city in the northwest. Afterwards, the young men skin the wolves, cut the meat, and make wolf meat skewers to sell, giving off the familiar bold and warm atmosphere that has always been present on both sides of the Yellow River.
Now so much time has passed, and I am already in my third year of college. I have started to miss those days of devilish training. Now, I am preparing to share this experience with others and tell our college entrance examination story.
Northwest Wolf Killing
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Until now, I still remember the day when I first found out that killing a wolf barehanded would be included in the college entrance examination. It was the first class of my second year of high school. After the long summer vacation, we seemed a bit tired, with our hands supporting our heads, gazing at the passing camel caravan outside.
Our homeroom teacher, Mr. Zhang, walked into the classroom. After scanning the room, he asked us about our achievements during the vacation. A few boys said they had obtained a camel driving license, and a few girls said they had learned some equestrian skills. After listening, Mr. Zhang looked at our listless and drowsy appearance, remained silent for a moment, and then leaned against the lectern, asking, "Are you all hibernating? The new semester has just begun, you know?" We laughed in agreement. He continued, "Do you know that killing a wolf barehanded will be included in the college entrance examination?"
After he finished speaking, we were a bit stunned. The atmosphere in the classroom changed, with half of us surprised and the other half feeling a bit burdened. Those who were dozing off or yawning now had expressions of astonishment, and the hands fanning themselves froze halfway. The classroom remained silent for about seven or eight seconds, only the sound of camel bells fading away in the distance.
Then Boss Zhang said slowly, "What's meant to come will come. Last year, when the teachers went to Yinchuan for an exchange, a few experts leaked some information, saying that even Gansu candidates wouldn't know how to kill a wolf barehanded. But I didn't expect it to happen so soon. That's why I always say that these experts have different ideas from us normal people..."
The classmates around me started discussing various questions, point values, and weightings. I turned my head towards the sound of the camel bells, but the camel caravan was nowhere to be seen. Outside the window, there was only the wind blowing from below Gaolan Mountain, lifting sand and gently hitting the felt roof. I sighed silently in my heart, knowing that the easy days were gone forever.
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In the year when the price of beef noodles increased from 5 yuan to 6 yuan, our educational reform began to progress vigorously. The school leaders first transformed the entertainment activity of killing wolves barehanded, which used to be once a week, into a daily mandatory training. They quickly introduced a batch of special wolves from Ningxia for specialized training. In the two camel hump classes (key classes), every five or six students formed a wolf-killing mutual assistance group for learning and competition. The first week of school was chaotic, with everyone bustling about. But we were quite happy with this kind of excitement.
It was another Saturday, and it had rained all night. The eastern sky was turning white. As usual, I quietly got up, got dressed, washed up, and tidied my bed, preparing to cut some grass for my camels. I lifted the grass curtain of the felt tent, and raindrops on the reeds bounced and rolled down. The leaves of the big elm tree at the door covered the ground. It seemed that it had rained heavily last night, but outside, I could only feel the fine drizzle. In Lanzhou, it was either strong winds for a few weeks, heavy rain for a few days, sandstorms for an afternoon, or haze for a few months. It was rare to have this kind of slanting wind and fine rain in the morning. Listening to the sound of cacti dripping on both sides of the street, I strolled along Hezheng Road and unknowingly arrived at the Wiquan Mountain Camel Feed Factory. The rusty iron gate, which had been there for a few years, was still closed, so I had to take shelter from the rain under the eaves. As I stared blankly at the distant sand dunes, I heard a few wolf howls in my ears. I looked up and saw someone training to kill wolves barehanded on the training ground below Wiquan Mountain. I could vaguely see that it was a girl. It seemed that she had already fought the wolf for several rounds, but still couldn't defeat it. It was rare to see someone training so early in the morning. The old men doing morning exercises hadn't left yet, and the loudspeakers of the square dancing aunties hadn't started playing their music. I walked around the foot of the mountain and wanted to see who it was. When I reached a place about 30 meters away from the iron cage used for training, I leaned against a plum tree and looked over. The situation for the girl killing the wolf didn't look good. After a long standoff, her physical strength had greatly declined, and her knife skills were not very proficient. The wolf was currently in a frenzy, so if things continued like this, there would definitely be an accident.
First, let me explain that the so-called "killing wolves barehanded" doesn't actually mean fighting empty-handed. Usually, we use a short dagger as an auxiliary weapon. The main techniques mentioned in the textbook—stabbing, pressing, twisting, pressing down, flicking, grabbing, lifting, and suppressing—may seem simple, but they require extremely high coordination in actual combat and quick physical reactions.
But that morning, the girl in the cage - later I found out her name was Su Zhi - clearly didn't get any advantage. Although her movements were precise, they seemed completely restrained.
Compared to the ordinary wolves we usually train, that wolf was much larger, with a dark gray coat and a certain coldness about it. It wasn't in a hurry to attack, but rather circled Su Zhi slowly, like a cunning and experienced hunter, first undermining the opponent's mental state before finding the best moment for a fatal blow. The air was filled with a tense and eerie atmosphere, with the rain constantly beating on the iron cage, each sound setting the rhythm for this dangerous game.
Su Zhi seemed to feel immense pressure and took the initiative, stepping forward abruptly and stabbing at the wolf's forelimb joint with a dagger, attempting to "pin" its head down. The textbook said that this series of actions, if timed correctly, would be the most effective way to take the initiative. However, the wolf moved strangely agilely, not only evading her blade, but also seizing the opportunity to bite her forearm.
"How could it be so fast!" My heart skipped a beat, and I clenched my fist tightly. Su Zhi almost lost her balance, but luckily she managed to dodge the fatal blow by sidestepping. However, her forearm was still torn open. Biting her lip, she endured the pain and retreated once again. The wolf didn't immediately pursue, but instead stood there, emitting a low growl, as if mocking its opponent and calculating its next pounce. The situation at this moment was much more dangerous than regular training sessions.
Panting heavily, Su Zhi attempted to turn the tables with another set of textbook techniques: she flipped the dagger, "hooked" it into the wolf's waist, and then "pressed" it against its back, hoping to destabilize its center of gravity. However, the wolf seemed to have already seen through her intentions and forcefully rammed her with its shoulder, slamming her into the iron cage railing.
"Dong!" Su Zhi groaned, almost losing her balance. The wolf immediately pounced, its claws carrying a foul wind, nearly tearing her apart on the spot. My heart jumped into my throat, wishing to rush in immediately, but I was blocked by the tightly locked cage door. Su Zhi fell to the ground, and the dagger was snatched by the wolf and flung far away. "Clang," the knife fell into the muddy ground, leaving me chilled to the bone.
With no other options, I took out my phone to call the police. However, the other side lazily replied, "We'll send someone on a camel right away," and then hung up. Thinking about having to wait for them to arrive, I couldn't help but want to throw my phone. Inside the cage, Su Zhi was already covered in cold sweat, stumbling, while the wolf continued to stroll around playfully, seemingly wanting to savor her process of breaking down. Every breath of that creature exuded bloodlust and cunning, as if it had undergone specialized training.
I desperately pulled on the iron gate, but found that the chain was immovable. Su Zhi retreated to a corner, a look of despair in her eyes, while the wolf approached step by step. A cruel light burned brighter in its eyes, as if waiting for the perfect moment for a final strike. Just as I thought I could only watch helplessly as she was torn apart by the wolf, a sudden burning sensation surged in my chest, and an inexplicable low wolf howl echoed in my mind - a howl mixed with anger, ferocity, fear, and an indescribable threat.
I looked up at the wolf again, and my vision suddenly became unusually clear. I felt as if I could understand its intentions: it seemed to be weighing some unknown danger. "What is it afraid of..." this thought flashed through my mind, and my hands unconsciously clenched the chain tightly. In the next moment, I gritted my teeth, exerted all my strength, and forcefully pulled - "Crack!" a piercing sound of metal breaking rang out, and I had actually managed to snap the chain.
The wolf suddenly turned its head, a hint of unexpected panic appearing in its eyes, as if sensing the sudden surge of energy from my body. Normally, I wouldn't have such strength, but in that moment, it felt as if my entire body was on fire, with wolf howls constantly echoing in my mind, compelling me to face this monster. Without thinking too much, I pushed open the cage door and stepped inside.
Su Zhi leaned against the corner of the fence, looking like she was about to lose support. I just whispered to her, "Don't worry... I'll deal with this guy." In fact, I was also very nervous, but that violent impulse drove me forward.
The wolf growled at me, its voice filled with panic and warning, as if it was truly afraid of something terrifying about me. I didn't understand why I could sense its emotions, but I felt a hint of hesitation in its claws as it lifted them again. But hesitation was useless, it was ultimately still aggressive and pounced to test my reaction. I took a deep breath, swiftly moved to its side, and clenched my fist, smashing it on its back with a loud "thud". That punch made me feel a tingling soreness, and the wolf let out a mournful howl, its spine convulsing violently.
The wolf's howl rang in my head, making it buzz incessantly, but it also revealed an opening in that instant. Su Zhi seemed to understand that the moment had come, gritted her teeth, struggled to stand up from the ground, and reached down to pick up the dagger, aiming it fiercely at the wolf's neck. It wanted to dodge, but I disrupted its balance, causing its movements to be a beat too slow, ultimately unable to evade this strike.
"Plop," the icy blade pierced its vital spot. The wolf writhed in pain on the muddy ground, emitting short cries that seemed to declare its defeat. It let out a few more sobs from its throat before finally collapsing, completely losing its threat. Seeing it fall, I realized that my legs were so weak that I could barely stand, and the scorching power I had just felt receded like a tide.
Su Zhi also sat down on the ground, exhausted, gasping for breath. I quickly supported her shoulders and only then did I notice that the blood had soaked through her arm guard. Her face was extremely pale, but she clenched her teeth without making a sound. I hurriedly tore off my outer garment and ripped it into several pieces to stop her bleeding. The rain was still falling, and it seemed like the sound of camel bells and sirens could be heard from outside the cage, but they all seemed like distant background noise.
The strange "resonance" still echoes in my mind: as if I could truly understand the wolf's intentions just now, and also release some unfamiliar and strange power. But I really can't figure it out, and for a while, I can't think about it in detail.
"How...are you?" I asked Su Zhi in a low voice. She just glanced at me, her eyes full of confusion and exhaustion, unable to speak immediately. But I know that she must have also noticed my abnormality.
Soon, we heard the chaotic footsteps and camel howls outside the cage, it should be the police and the people from the academic affairs office rushing over. As I helped Su Zhi out of the cage, my hands were still trembling. The wolf lay weakly in the mud, and my mind was just a mess as to who let it in and why it looked more dangerous than an ordinary special wolf.
At this moment, my gaze unintentionally crossed the rain curtain and looked towards the pine forest at the foot of the distant mountain. My line of sight seemed to inexplicably become particularly clear, vaguely seeing a black figure quickly flash into the woods, as if afraid of being discovered by us. I felt as if I could even capture the cold and sharp gaze when that person glanced back, piercing my heart like a knife.
By the time I tried to see clearly again, that dark shadow had already disappeared without a trace, only the pine branches swaying in the wind. I shivered, suddenly realizing that this matter might not be simple.
The rain continued to drizzle, and the cold of early spring seeped into my body through my collar, making me shiver. I stood outside the cage, supporting Su Zhi, while the people from the academic affairs office in the distance hurriedly rode camels over. The body of the wolf in the iron cage lay quietly in the mud, with a hint of eerie desolation.
Suddenly, I felt a strange tremor coming from somewhere in my body, as if something had just awakened and slowly subsided. When I was young, the elders in my family would occasionally talk about the mysterious and unfathomable stories of our ancestors, but whenever I tried to ask my grandfather and father about it, they would always remain silent. It was rumored that our family ancestors had a complicated relationship with wolf packs on the snowy plateau, but it wasn't until just now that I vaguely realized that these stories might not just be legends.
At this moment, Su Zhi was staring at me with a look of doubt and scrutiny. She seemed to have also noticed my strangeness, but didn't say much. I understood in my heart that this unexpected confrontation might have exposed some kind of secret in me, and this secret might become the focus of certain forces' attention.
In recent years, killing wolves barehanded as a major subject in the college entrance examination is no longer just a simple test project. The government, the military, and enterprises have all entered the scene, and the tourism industry, pharmaceutical industry, and various ethnic minority cultures are all benefiting from this wave of "returning to ancient survival skills" craze. Whoever can truly grasp these ancient secrets related to wolves will have the upper hand in this trend.
The black shadow in the distant pine forest has long disappeared, but I still vividly remember those cold and sharp eyes. There was obvious hostility in that gaze, as if implying that there was a bigger conspiracy hidden behind this seemingly ordinary accident.
The rain gradually blurred the outline of Gaolan Mountain in the distance, and I silently waited for the rain to stop.