Don’t get me wrong, I love gadgets. Also, don’t misunderstand me – I would gladly part with a kidney in the right circumstance. Say my mother or someone else I loved needed one, I would give it up in a second. You only need one, right? Or maybe even for the right price on the black market…

But for three grand? I don’t think so.

That’s exactly what one Chinese high-school freshman did. Seventeen-year-old Zheng from Huaishan, Anhui Province sold one of his kidneys for 22,000 yuan, a little over $3300.

According to the Shanghai Daily, the teen went to Chenzhou no. 198 hospital under the supervision of three men to have the kidney removed. His poor mother, who knew nothing about the exchange, called the authorities as soon as she saw what had happened. The police had no luck in reaching the “broker” via the cell phone number given by Zheng. The kid’s health is currently deteriorating.

As would be expected, the hospital has denied any connection with the operation. They said that “[their] urology department is contracted to a businessman in Fujian.”

Zheng said he did all of this for the latest Apple tablet:

“I wanted to buy an iPad 2 but could not afford it. A broker contacted me on the Internet and said he could help me sell one kidney for 20,000 yuan.”

I guess this is one way Apple could advertise their popular product – “The iPad 2: so awesome, you’ll sell your organs on the black market for one!”

Here’s an alleged photo of Zheng showing his post-surgery scar, courtesy of China’s Global Times:

In April, we reported on a study that found young people with a high level of dependence on social media, bordering on addiction. Kids all over the world reported feelings of distress and despair when separated from things like Twitter and Facebook for just 24 hours. I guess the addiction to social media applies to the devices used to access said social media.

The Chinese have made news recently over fights regarding Apple products. When the iPad 2 was first launched in the States, Chinese scalpers set up camp near the NYC Apple store to buy up the devices and scalp them for ridiculously inflated prices. Apple stores in China were sites of disputes over the iPad 2, one reportedly resulting in the front glass windows being destroyed by the fighters.

It’s no wonder that Apple just surpassed Google as the world’s most valuable brand. When people are selling their kidneys for your latest and greatest, you have quite the hold on the global consumer.