Who is Guan Hongying from Death of a Red Heroine and what is their importance?

Guan Honging is the murder victim. Her given name, Hongying, translates at Red Heroine, giving the book its title. She is dead at the beginning of the novel and is only seen through the testimony of others. Guan is a national celebrity, a Chinese icon of sorts. Her public persona is that of a dedicated Communist worker. Her private persona is very different. To most people, she seems a very private person who keeps to herself.