Who is Mother from The Examination and what is their importance?

Hong and Chen's mother was an educated woman, which was rare in China at this time in history. She tutored Chen as a boy, helping him attain his high scholastic ranking. She had hoped to see Chen proceed through the national examinations, but died before this was possible. Hong believes that he communicates with his mother through a fortune teller, who encourages him to continue to help Chen complete the exams.