Typically, the villagers go to the river to wash clothes and bedcovers early in the morning, allowing them to dry in the courtyard throughout the day, just in time to be collected.
Ms. Lou used to do the same, but after being beaten by Ruan Kewei, going to the river to wash clothes would inevitably expose her wounds. The riverbank was filled with chatter and gossip, and while many supported Ruan Hai, there were some hot-tempered ones who cursed at Ruan Hai and Ruan Kewei.
After hearing the rumors, Ruan Hai advised Ms. Lou not to go out when there were many people around.
The Ruan family was well-off, not like some poorer villagers who needed to dry their clothes during the day to wear them the next. Thus, even washing at night was not an issue.
Conveniently, Ms. Lou also preferred not to be the subject of public discussion and felt more at ease going to the river when no one was around, allowing her to relax.
