Qin Jiang led Jiang Xiu into the pharmacy, and the netizens in the live stream were instantly abuzz.
“The world is full of wonders, isn’t it? I never imagined someone would swallow so many little steel balls just to diet.”
“You’re still underestimating biodiversity. My second uncle kept complaining about headaches, went to the hospital countless times but never found the cause. Later, he just bought a head therapy device online and swore it worked wonders.”
“Oh man, I think I’ve seen that head therapy device you’re talking about. Claims it uses micro-radiation to alter brainwaves, thus changing a person’s entire magnetic field to achieve natural healing. That’s just ridiculous.”
“I believe spaghetti should be mixed with No. 42 concrete, right?”
“Sounds exactly like those products from TV infomercials. Those ads are utterly shameless! They specifically prey on the elderly!”
“Hey, buddy, I gotta disagree with you there. What do you mean ‘specifically prey on the elderly’? Don’t they scam young people’s money too? Haven’t you ever bought that ‘Eight Stars, Eight Arrows’ stuff?”
Initially, Liu Yan also couldn’t understand why Jiang Xiu would swallow such small steel balls.
But after reading the netizens’ discussion, she suddenly realized that everyone can be deceived by various pseudo-scientific claims that sound plausible; it’s just that the specific vulnerabilities and thresholds differ.
Jiang Xiu, troubled by binge eating disorder and swayed by the sales pitch of the steel ball vendor, naturally fell for it easily.
When a person can’t find any other good solution, they tend to resort to extremes.
Five minutes later, the X-ray images were ready.
Even though they had braced themselves for it, everyone still shook their heads in shock upon seeing the countless white steel balls filling Jiang Xiu’s abdomen.
This lady is really something else!
Seeing Qin Jiang’s grave expression as he held the X-rays, Jiang Xiu grew nervous too.
“Doctor, my condition… doesn’t require surgery, right?”
Jiang Xiu had already undergone gastric sleeve surgery once before.
She was very resistant to the idea of another surgery—expensive and damaging to her body.
Qin Jiang sighed.
“I still can’t wrap my head around it. Why on earth did you buy this thing?”
“Could you share what you were thinking at the time?”
Qin Jiang wasn’t mocking Jiang Xiu; he genuinely wanted to understand the patient’s mindset.
Jiang Xiu, blushing, explained, “Mainly, I thought the principle seemed quite scientific, plus there were supposedly no side effects, and the price wasn’t high, so I gave it a try.”
“Swallowing steel balls is scientific? How is that scientific?”
Jiang Xiu said with a straight face, “Of course it’s scientific. The steel balls can’t be digested, right?”
“When I felt like eating, I’d just swallow a few steel balls. They would take up space in my stomach, creating a feeling of fullness.”
“With that feeling of fullness, naturally I wouldn’t want to eat more. Isn’t that effect better than just dieting?”
“Moreover, these steel balls are reusable. You swallow them, and later… you pass them out. They don’t cause any harm to the body.”
“It’s just this time… the luck wasn’t great. Swallowed too many at once, so they got stuck and I can’t pass them now.”
Listening to Jiang Xiu’s explanation, Qin Jiang felt a chill run down his spine.
Because what Jiang Xiu said actually seemed to make some sense!
The only issue was that she hadn’t considered the dangers of swallowing steel balls and didn’t fully understand how the digestive system works.
“Ms. Jiang, if swallowing steel balls could solve hunger, then so many people wouldn’t starve to death every day around the world.”
“Swallowing steel balls might give you a sense of fullness, but they don’t provide the calories, nutrients your body needs, nor do they neutralize your stomach acid.”
“In short, this behavior of yours… it’s best not to do it again.”
After saying this, Qin Jiang pointed to the QR code on the table.
“Scan to pay. Twenty-six thousand in total. I’ll first treat your binge eating disorder, then help you remove these steel balls from your body.”
Hearing it was only twenty-six thousand, Jiang Xiu didn’t hesitate. She thanked him profusely while scanning and making the payment.
Ding.
[Detected that the host spoke candidly to the patient, revealing the patient’s hidden ailment and providing significant assistance. Task completed.]
[Congratulations to the host for receiving the reward: Divine Eight-Treasure Decoction!]
Seeing the system’s reward, Qin Jiang immediately felt relieved.
Good, the reward this time was finally normal.
That probably meant the next patient’s condition wouldn’t be too bizarre.
Collecting his thoughts, Qin Jiang pointed to the nearby hospital bed.
“Come over here. I’ll use acupuncture to regulate your system, first treating your binge eating disorder.”
Jiang Xiu obediently lay down on the bed. Then, Qin Jiang took out silver needles and inserted them one by one into points on her head.
“Doctor, I feel a bit of swelling in my head.”
This was Jiang Xiu’s first time receiving acupuncture, and she was a little nervous.
Strangely, she didn’t feel pain from the needles in her head, but rather a sense of swelling.
It was as if someone was blowing air into her head, inflating her entire skull.
Qin Jiang pressed a point about three inches above her temple. Jiang Xiu’s eyes instantly widened.
This sensation was peculiar—a mix of slight swelling, a bit of ache, and a touch of comfort.
Hard to describe!
Qin Jiang explained, “This is where the liver and gallbladder meridians pass. For young people who stay up late, feel anxious, or have insomnia, this meridian will ache.”
“You can often massage along the liver and gallbladder meridians in your daily life; it’s beneficial for your body.”
Hearing this, the people around subconsciously pressed the same spot on themselves.
Ouch, that hurts!
No wonder veteran TCM doctors can tell at a glance if you’ve been staying up late.
You can even check yourself this way.
Qin Jiang continued, “Massage can only soothe your body and help you relax; it generally cannot replace treatment.”
“You’ll need to come here regularly for follow-ups, with acupuncture once a month. After a year, your binge eating disorder should be completely cured.”
Jiang Xiu’s heart was filled with gratitude.
Binge eating disorder had been troubling her for a long time.
If Qin Jiang really had a way to solve it, then traveling to Jincheng once a month for treatment wasn’t a big deal.
After the acupuncture session ended, Qin Jiang had Jiang Xiu continue lying down. He then placed his hand on her abdomen.
“If you went to another hospital, they’d probably need surgery to remove these small steel balls from your intestines.”
“But here, I’ll first try using massage to help your gastrointestinal motility and change the position of the steel balls inside you.”
At this point, Qin Jiang pointed to the outhouse in the distance.
“That’s the toilet over there. After I finish the massage, you need to dash over there as fast as you can. Don’t end up soiling your pants, understand?”
Jiang Xiu nodded to show she understood.
But inwardly, she didn’t take it too seriously.
She was an adult; would she really lose control of her bowels?
After all, she had been constipated for so long; she had almost forgotten what diarrhea felt like.
