Who is Chen's mother from Death of a Red Heroine and what is their importance?

Chief Inspector Chen Cao is the novel's main character. He is the lead investigator in the murder case that forms the central plot of the book. He is something of a rising star within the Communist Party. He is quite young to have been appointed Chief Inspector and he has been invited to an important Party symposium, which is a rare honor. Chen is a hard and conscientious worker. He never planned to become a cop, having studied English Literature at the university.