"I have only ordered something once, and it was popcorn," Shen says. "And they gave me a glass of water free. In everyday life I know no PhDs or lawyers but this way I share the same stage with them. It feels great."

Shen, from Changchun, in Jilin province in the Northeast, says he has been "a loner since kindergarten". Speaking even more slowly than on stage, he says he has always had difficulty communicating with people, including his family.

After losing several jobs, he says, he saw a psychologist for a few years.

"As part of the treatment, I was even asked to ride around the streets on a bike selling soybean milk."

But that did not help, he says.

"I was never any good at talking to people, but my high school friends used to tell me that whatever I said was funny. Since then I have always wanted to try to amuse large audiences."

He watches a lot of comedy in his spare time and 10 years ago did a course in comedy, he says, but it was only recently after coming across the open mic sessions hosted by the Beijing Stand-up Comedy Club that he decided to put what he has learned into practice.

"Of course, it's not easy. But it's no more challenging than selling soybean milk. People always think you need to be an extrovert to do comedy. I don't think so. I enjoy entertaining on stage; It makes me feel good."

His wife is aware that he goes to the open mic sessions, he says.

"She doesn't ask too much as long as I don't have to spend money on it."

His son, older brother and parents have no idea what he is doing when he heads into the city, he says, and he is unsure about whether he will invite them to a show, although if he does it will be later rather than sooner.

"I know I can do better. People always think I'm dumb. With my humor I want to prove my self-worth."