Following what Qin Jiang said, Li Yuan obediently opened her mouth.
Qin Jiang took a flashlight and used a tongue depressor to conduct a thorough examination. He found that Li Yuan’s oral cavity was very healthy, with no issues at all.
“From this view, there really doesn’t seem to be a problem. How about this: you hold this endoscope in your mouth, and then swallow a small piece of bread.”
With Qin Jiang’s help, Li Yuan chewed the bread a few times. Just as she was about to swallow, she opened her mouth and held the endoscope inside.
Qin Jiang gave her a look, signaling that she could swallow now.
Right as Li Yuan swallowed, the viewers in the live stream could clearly see her throat contract violently.
Her esophagus, which should normally be able to accommodate a fist-sized lump of food, was now completely closed up, twisting and trembling.
This scene gave the live stream audience goosebumps.
“What the hell is this? Why does watching her swallow something give me the feeling of witnessing the gates of hell?”
“Oh my god, this is terrifying. Wouldn’t that be excruciatingly painful?”
“It’s a miracle she’s been able to endure this since she was ten. If it were me, I probably wouldn’t last a few days before starving to death.”
When Qin Jiang observed from the outside, he had already determined that Li Yuan’s condition was quite serious.
But he never imagined that seeing the images from inside the endoscope would be even more shocking!
To draw a comparison, the pain Li Yuan feels when swallowing is similar to the pain of a calf muscle cramp.
The worst part is that this reaction happens every single time she swallows!
So even Qin Jiang had to admire her ability to endure pain.
“So, when you usually drink water or eat liquid foods, does this happen as well?”
Li Yuan shook her head.
“As long as it’s not solid food, this doesn’t happen.”
Qin Jiang nodded and then asked, “Did you chew your food when you were a child?”
Jin Lan thought Qin Jiang’s question was a bit strange. Who eats without chewing?
But Li Yuan’s answer surprised everyone.
Li Yuan blushed and said softly, “When I was little, I really didn’t like chewing my food. I just swallowed everything directly.”
“Huh?”
Jin Lan looked shocked, unable to understand.
“Wait, why wouldn’t you chew your food? Didn’t it feel awful?”
Li Yuan blushed, lowered her head, and whispered, “It didn’t feel awful… I… I actually found it very comfortable.”
Qin Jiang explained, “The human esophagus does have sensation, but because we swallow so often, that feeling is very faint and most of us ignore it.”
“Some people actually really enjoy the sensation of swallowing, liking the feeling of being aware of their esophagus.”
“For example, many people enjoy drinking alcohol. There’s a term for a sensation when drinking called ‘a thread of softness’.”
“If it’s good liquor, and you swallow a mouthful in one go, you can feel a thread-like stream going down your esophagus into your stomach. Then that thread turns into a hot branding iron, and a feeling of intense heat spreads from your chest throughout your body.”
With Qin Jiang’s explanation, the netizens suddenly understood.
“That’s right. I know a lot of older guys who just swallow their liquor straight. They say that sensation is exactly what they’re after.”
“I don’t drink alcohol, but when I was a kid, I loved drinking carbonated drinks. What I enjoyed most was the feeling of the bubbles stimulating my esophagus. It was addictive!”
“So, this young lady was trying to achieve a similar effect by swallowing rice? Can her stomach even digest it?”
After hearing Qin Jiang’s explanation, Jin Lan and Li Yuan suddenly understood.
Li Yuan quickly asked, “So, the reason I’m like this now is because I didn’t chew my food when I was little and just swallowed it directly?”
Qin Jiang nodded.
“Your condition is caused by muscle spasms.”
“When a normal person eats, the muscles along the food pathway contract and relax. But your muscles have become very sensitive due to years of constant stimulation.”
“You see, while directly swallowing food can create a certain comfortable feeling through friction against the esophagus, it also damages the esophagus.”
“So, your body started this stress mechanism to protect you.”
“This is why nothing happens when you drink water, but as soon as you eat solid food, your esophagus reacts immediately.”
Li Yuan’s expression turned awkward.
So, after all that, she caused this illness herself?
“Then, doctor, can my illness be cured?”
“Yes.”
Qin Jiang pointed to the QR code on the table.
“Please pay first. It’s 470.”
Hearing it was only 470, the live stream audience burst into laughter.
“This girl’s consultation fee is really cheap.”
“How could it not be cheap? No medication, no injections, just talking. I think Dr. Qin is taking a loss.”
“Yeah, this girl’s illness is entirely self-inflicted. Shouldn’t this kind of emotional issue fall under psychological disorders? Shouldn’t there be a consultation fee?”
“Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t seem to have a concept of a consultation fee. Last time I saw a Western psychologist, it was two hundred an hour. After three hours, six hundred was gone.”
Li Yuan took out her phone and scanned the code to pay. Qin Jiang immediately heard a system notification sound in his mind.
Ding.
[Detected that the host spoke frankly to the patient, revealing their hidden ailment and greatly assisting them. Mission complete.]
[Congratulations, host! You have received a reward: Stomach-Soothing and Spleen-Nourishing Decoction.]
Stomach-Soothing and Spleen-Nourishing Decoction?
Feels pretty similar to a digestive aid tablet.
Looks like the next patient probably has a stomach or intestinal issue.
Got another prescription as a reward. Not a bad deal!
Just as Qin Jiang was feeling pleased, Li Yuan, who had already paid, looked at him with eager anticipation.
“Dr. Qin, how do you think my illness should be treated?”
Qin Jiang said, “Oh, it’s simple. I just need to give you a few acupuncture needles.”
After saying this, Qin Jiang took out his needle pouch, had Li Yuan sit properly, and stretch her neck out as far as possible.
Seeing Qin Jiang holding long, thin needles about to pierce her neck, Li Yuan panicked a bit.
“Dr. Qin, are you really going to needle my neck? Is that really safe?”
The neck is a very sensitive area on a person’s body.
Now that Qin Jiang was about to needle her neck, Li Yuan was naturally very scared.
Qin Jiang reassured her, “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. It might hurt a little, but you need to bear with it for a moment.”
With that, Qin Jiang inserted the first needle.
Li Yuan, who had been tense, widened her eyes in surprise.
She didn’t feel pain. Instead, she felt a tingling numbness that was actually quite pleasant.
Qin Jiang continued explaining, “The first few needles are mainly to help relax your tense muscles. It’s like when you run every day, your calf muscles remain in a tight state.”
“So, you’ll find the first few needles very comfortable.”
“But the last one is going to hurt a bit.”
While talking, Qin Jiang inserted the final needle.
As soon as that needle went in, Li Yuan let out a sharp cry of pain, tears streaming down her face.
Fortunately, the pain came and went quickly.
Almost as soon as Li Yuan cried out, the intense pain disappeared.
The specific sensation was like someone forcefully snapping a dislocated bone back into place – it hurts for just an instant.
