The patient was in critical condition.

The emergency department at the City First Hospital immediately organized a joint consultation with specialists from pediatrics and gastroenterology.

Normally, there are three common medical approaches to dealing with foreign objects in the gastrointestinal tract.

The first is to "wait and see, and let it pass naturally."

This method is suitable for small, smooth objects, such as accidentally swallowed marbles or buttons.

By eating more fiber-rich foods to promote intestinal motility, the foreign object can usually be safely expelled with the stool.

But Xiao Momo had obviously swallowed a sharp iron nail. This method was absolutely out of the question.

As the nail moved with the contractions of the intestines, it could pierce the delicate intestinal wall at any moment, causing peritonitis or even major hemorrhaging, which would be life-threatening.

The second method is "endoscopic removal."

This involves inserting a gastroscope or colonoscope deep into the digestive tract. Under direct visual guidance, forceps or a basket attached to the tip are used to grasp or snare the foreign object, which is then removed from the body along with the endoscope.

It is a minimally invasive procedure and currently the most commonly used method.

The third is the last resort—surgery.

When the foreign object is too large, has an unusual shape, or has already caused serious complications like intestinal perforation, the only option is open abdominal surgery to directly cut into the stomach or intestines and remove it.

However, Xiao Momo’s situation was exceptionally unique and difficult.

Because he was just too young!

He was just over a year old. His esophagus, stomach, and intestines were all still very delicate and fragile, with extremely thin walls.

If they chose the second method, endoscopic removal, the risks were enormous.

For such a small child, the endoscope itself would cause significant trauma.

During the process of grasping the nail with forceps, the slightest slip could cause the tip of the forceps or the nail to scrape or even perforate the esophageal or stomach wall.

One could only imagine the difficulty of operating in such a small space with such thin walls.

And if they opted for the third method, surgery, the risks were even greater.

Open abdominal surgery is major trauma even for an adult, let alone a baby just over a year old.

The risks of anesthesia, the risks of the surgery, the risk of postoperative infection... A problem at any stage could be fatal.

In the consultation room, the specialists discussed for a long time, their brows furrowed, unable to make a decision.

In the end, they laid out the pros, cons, and immense risks of both options for Wang Jianhao and Liu Lanlan.

"...That’s the situation. Both methods have a chance of success, but both also carry extreme risks. You... the family should discuss it, decide which option to choose, and then sign here."

The attending physician pushed two surgical consent forms in front of them.

Wang Jianhao stared at the densely packed text listing all sorts of terrifying "risks" and "complications." He felt dizzy, and his limbs went weak.

Liu Lanlan had already collapsed to one side, sobbing uncontrollably.

Sign, or not sign?

Which one to choose?

’But no matter which one they chose, it felt like they were gambling with their own son’s life!’

How could they bring themselves to sign their names?

The couple was trapped in an unprecedented struggle.

...

「Meanwhile, under the large scholar tree at the entrance of Wang Villa Village.」

A group of bored villagers had gathered, chattering away about Wang Jianhao’s family.

"Sigh, what a terrible thing! Such a fine grandson, how did this happen?" an old woman said with a sigh.

"Isn’t it because of that Lanlan of his? All day long, she just stares at her phone, tossing the kid aside and not paying attention. Well, look what happened now, right? An accident,"

a woman who usually didn’t get along with Liu Lanlan grumbled from the side, gloating over her misfortune.

"You can’t say that. Kids are mischievous by nature. They love putting things in their mouths. You look away for one second and it happens," another villager said, defending Liu Lanlan.

"Exactly. What’s the use of saying all this now? I just wonder if they can even get that nail out. The child is so young, I hope he doesn’t end up with any lasting problems."

Everyone had something to say; some complained, others sympathized.

But most of them were worried about the poor child.

Just then, a woman suddenly slapped her thigh and said, "Hey! I just remembered something!"

She looked up and said to the crowd, "Do you all remember? A few days ago, Third Aunt, from Old Third’s family on the east side of the village, her granddaughter had something stuck in her throat too, didn’t she? It was a piece of pork bone, I think, even bigger than a nail! I heard they took her to the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the situation was pretty dangerous. But didn’t she come back just fine afterward?"

"That’s right! I remember that!" everyone recalled.

As it happened, Third Aunt was just coming out of her house, preparing to join everyone under the big scholar tree for a chat.

"Third Aunt! Third Aunt, come over here!"

The crowd immediately surrounded her, all talking at once as they started asking questions.

"Third Aunt, your granddaughter who had the pork bone stuck in her throat a few days ago, how did they treat her? Did she have surgery?"

Third Aunt patted her chest, a look of lingering fear on her face, and began to recount the story vividly. "Oh, you have no idea! We were all scared to death at the time."

My daughter was visiting with her child, and while they were eating noodles, a big piece of pork bone accidentally got stuck in her throat.

We took her to the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the specialists there all said it was lodged too deep. She’d need surgery, an incision on her neck!"

She paused, waiting until she had everyone in suspense before continuing, "But just then, a young ’Divine Physician’ appeared. And guess what? He didn’t make a single cut, didn’t use any forceps. He just took out a few long, shiny needles and pricked my granddaughter’s neck and hands a few times."

A moment later, my granddaughter let out a ’WAAAH’ and spit the big bone out herself. Not even a scratch on her skin. Tell me, isn’t that miraculous?"

"For real? Just a few pricks with a needle and she was fine?" The villagers clucked their tongues in amazement, finding it all incredible.

"Of course it’s real! I saw it with my own two eyes," Third Aunt swore confidently. "Later, my daughter told me that young doctor is amazing. He uses authentic ’acupuncture,’ a true skill passed down from our ancestors."

As the crowd was listening, captivated, the same woman from before slapped her thigh again and said urgently,

"Well, what are we waiting for?! Someone tell Jianhao, quick! His son has something stuck in him too, right? If acupuncture can get a bone out, it can definitely get a nail out. Why would he need surgery? It’s so dangerous!"

"Right, right! Tell him quickly!" the crowd chimed in.

Third Aunt thought it was a great idea, too. She quickly pulled out her senior-friendly phone, wanting to call Wang Jianhao.

But after scrolling through her contacts for a long time, she realized that even though they were from the same village and saw each other all the time, they never actually called each other. She didn’t have Wang Jianhao’s number in her phone at all.

After another round of frantic asking, they finally found Wang Jianhao’s number on a younger villager’s phone. Third Aunt hurriedly dialed it.