A manual labourer who touched the hearts of Chinese internet users 15 years ago with the sacrifices he made for his toddler child has received a Father’s Day gift from his now young adult son.

“Father, please take care of your health. I hope I can share a bit of your pressure,” said Ran Junchao, 18, who used his pocket money to buy a watch and a coat for Ran Guanghui.

The heartfelt gesture has moved online observers, especially when people discovered the way Ran senior supports his family.

Ran works as a bang bang porter, a specialist job in Chongqing, southwestern China, which requires physical strength to transport goods for customers by carrying them on the back.

Bang bang labourers used to thrive in Chongqing, known as Mountain City because of its terrain, which vehicles found difficult to navigate.

They became known as bang bang porters because that is how locals referred to the thick bamboo poles they used to do their job.

In recent years, the type of work has diminished due to technological advances. Also, very few young people are willing to take up such a labour-intensive job.

Ran senior, 56, began as a bang bang porter when he was young. He caught the public eye when a photographer from the state media outlet Xinhua took a shot of him working.

Ran had to take his three-year-old son to work with him and carry him along with whatever else the job demanded he lift. His wife, Qu Guangfang, was also working and there were no relatives to look after the boy.

“What he was carrying on his back was his family. What he is holding in his hands is the future,” said one internet user who was touched by the scene at the time.

Ran and Qu also have two daughters, both much older than their son.

When Ran junior was in primary school, he wrote an essay in which he said his father was the person he admired most.

“My wish is that my father would not be a bang bang any longer,” the son wrote.

But Ran’s father stuck to his non-lucrative job.

Several years ago, Ran senior refused invitations to become a blogger and live-streamer by leveraging his online fame.

“I am not highly educated. I am not familiar with the internet. So I do not want to do that,” he told Xinhua.

In 2016, Ran senior bought a 60-square metre flat in Chongqing after getting a home loan.

His son took the university entrance exam, known as gaokao in China.

His father hopes Ran junior can help soothe the regrets he has about his own lack of education.

Despite suffering waist problems, Ran senior said he planned to work for eight more years.

“I need to make enough money to fund my son’s marriage,” he said.

His two daughters are married with children.

“My work is tough. But every time I think that through my efforts, I can let my wife and children live a better life, I do not feel so exhausted,” he said.

“What an ordinary but great father he is!” said one online observer.

Another person said: “Your story tells me that as long as you work hard, life will get better and better. Carry on, Uncle Ran.”