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An 11-year-old boy in China was hospitalised after he swallowed a 10g gold bean purchased by his mother
According to the Sin Chew Daily, the child from Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, reportedly put the gold in his mouth to "exercise his tongue".
His mother, known only as Ji, was reportedly distracted with household chores at the time.
Ji had purportedly purchased the gold online for 10,000 yuan (RM5,900).
An example of a gold bean.
Image via Weibo via Sin Chew DailyWhen he ended up swallowing it, the woman initially thought her son was joking
However, she later discovered her son was telling the truth, leaving her distraught and in tears.
She told a local news outlet that her niece had once swallowed a coin, but the doctor said it was not a problem as it would pass out with her stool.
After reading online that others had passed gold objects naturally, she decided not to take the matter too seriously, believing the same would happen to her son.
"I reminded him every day that he couldn't poop outside, because this poop is a bit expensive."
However, after no gold turned up in her son's stool for five days, Ji brought him to the hospital
A diagnosis revealed a foreign object in his body, and he passed the gold the same day he went to the hospital.
Through the week-long ordeal, the boy did not suffer abdominal pain, vomiting, or any other symptoms.
Ji's story was reportedly uploaded to Chinese social media, where it went viral. She also reminded netizens that "everyone must store gold at home properly and never let naughty children see it!"
The foreign object reportedly found in the boy's body.
Image via Weibo via Sin Chew DailyGold beans are small ingots with a bean-like shape and are popular among China's youth
Weighing from 1g to 10g per piece, they are considered by Gen-Z to be a trendy new way to invest in gold, according to the Straits Times.
The idea has gone viral on Chinese social media sites such as Weibo and Xiaohongshu, with even banks like China Merchants Bank now offering gold bean sets for sale.
Chinese youths reportedly believe it is a low-risk investment, though this is disputed by experts.
Image used for illustration purposes only.
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