Recently, two photos taken some ten years ago went viral on the Internet.
Ran Guanghui and his son ten years ago
Ten years ago, photographer Xu Kangping took a photo of porter (or bangbang) Ran Guanghui and his son in Chaotianmen. Countless Chinese committed it and the caption underneath — “Family on his shoulders, hope in his hands” — to memory.
Ran Guanghui and his son in 2019
Ten years later, the photographer pressed the shutter again at the same location. Wrinkles have appeared around the eyes of 50-year-old Ran Guanghui, and his son has turned from a toddler into a teenager. However, their faces still beamed with the love of life and the quest for happiness.
The father: most well-known porter for carrying first and then bargaining
Except for the half-month Spring Festival holiday when shopping malls are closed, he carries and delivers loads all year round. Rain or wind is never a problem for him, and he is always available if the phone rings.
His bamboo shoulder pole has been with him for more than 20 years. It’s glossy, covered with sweat and oil stains, and the color is almost indistinguishable.
“No one would beg to differ if one says Ran is the No. 1 porter in Chaotianmen Market,” asserted Wu Qingyuan, who has been a peddler in Dasheng Shopping Mall for more than 20 years.
Ran Guanghui is also famous for his strength. He once carried a load of 235 kilograms.
Ran Guanghui makes a far brisker trade than others. The secret is that he is strong and does not become bitter in the face of losses or hardships. Ordinary porters can earn 2,000 to 3,000 yuan a month, while Ran can make 5,000 to 6,000, even 10,000 sometimes.
“He is a man of proven worth. He sacrifices more and works harder than we do.” Porter Deng appreciates him, saying, “Ran is a member of the Party. For us, porters in Chaotianmen, he is a source of pride.”
The son: I’ve been proud of my father all along
This boy who used to be mischievous has become more understanding. He would be entirely at ease when writing down the word “porter” on a form to indicate his father’s occupation. “My father toils away to bring me up. He is the person I admire most in the world. He is my role model.”
Ten years ago, Ran Junchao could barely catch up with his father, Ran Guanghui, who held his small hand while carrying loads down the streets. Now 14-year-old junior high school student Ran Junchao is already the monitor of his class.
Ran Junchao and his classmates were once assigned the task of writing an essay titled My Father. He wrote: “I have a great father. He pays my school fees with his shoulder pole.”
The home: a second-hand apartment in Jiefangbei
After years of working as a porter, Ran Guanghui and his family moved out of a rented bungalow in Wanglongmen in July 2016 and bought a 60-square-meter second-hand house on Xinhua Road on installment credit. It was less than 100 meters from the city center Jiefangbei.
On their first day in the new home, Ran Guanghui and his wife Qu sat on the sofa in the living room for a long time and then smiled into each other’s eyes. Tears coursed down Qu’s cheeks— she knew all too well that it was her husband who supported the family with his shoulders.
The spirit: the power behind the photo of a porter and his son
Every time Xu Kangping came to Chongqing in the past ten years, he would visit Ran Guanghui and his family and have a meal prepared by Qu. To him, this courteous, optimistic Chongqing man is no longer the subject of photography — he has become a bosom friend or even family. “I rejoice in seeing myself while recording a friend’s life journey.”
It was by chance that the photo was taken. It was the first time that Xu Kangping saw Ran, with goods on his shoulder pole, leading his young son down the steps. The delicate bond between the unhurried father and the innocent son resonated with him, and he decisively pressed the shutter.
Thousands of netizens posted this photo of the porter father and his son on social media shortly after it appeared. One of the comments left by netizens reads, “This is what life is like. The real hero in life is one who, however, worn out they may be, persists in believing in the good things that the future can bring and who keeps the dream of being a hero alive.”